Original subtitles

(rousing music)

- [Narrator] September, 1943.

After four years of war, the entirety

of Europe is now under German domination.

However, with allied victories in Stalingrad and El-Alamein,

the tide of the war seems to be turning.

But it will never turn in full

until the allied invasion of Europe.

With the French coast still an impenetrable fortress,

the best way in is the enemy's soft underbelly, Italy.

Fortunately, the landing in Sicily means British

and American forces are now lapping at the heels

of the Axis war machine.

Thus, Operation Avalanche is born.

On September 9th, 1943, the allies

will attempt to land in the backdoor

of the Nazi empire, along the coast of Italy at Salerno.

To punch a hole in the door

means first clearing the enemy waters

of the deadly U-boats and coastal guns.

For that, the Navy relied on its smallest

and swiftest vessel, the patrol torpedo boat,

also known as the PT.

While the allied fleet moves across the Tyrrhenian Sea,

the only defense for the PTs are a single ship

of the Merchant Marines.

Comprised of civilian and Navy personnel,

the U.S. Merchant Marine fights to supply the men

of the U.S. Armed Forces with all the resources

they'll need.

Tonight, the fight, no less important than the liberation

of the free world, will rest in the hands

of that lone vessel, the SS Lawton B. Evans,

and her brave crew aboard.

This is our story.

(waves crashing)

(intense music)

- That's that German barge Irish warned us about.

We've got bigger guns, should we go ahead?

- Not our job, Buck. It's a Liberty ship.

We came to deliver 10 tons of KRS and lumber

and cotton blankets to Palermo.

Let the warship take care of the war.

- General quarters.

- General quarters.

(loud whistling sound)

(alarm going off)

(dramatic music)

- F-light are on target.

F-light are on target.

We're on target, on target.

- Looks like he's going to fire the torpedoes.

- Well those F-lighters are tough,

but nothing a couple of fish can't take down real fast.

- Okay man, prepare the torpedoes.

(tense music)

- Starboard torpedo. Fire!

Portside torpedo. Fire!

- Come on.

(torpedo exploding)

- Yeah!

- There she goes.

- Direct hit! Direct hit! Good work, men.

Direct hit. Direct hit.

- Got 'em! Took about time.

- Did you see that, Tony?

- I saw it. Beautiful. Beautiful!

Couldn't have done better myself.

- Fireworks?

- They got eyes on us!

- Shit!

(tense music)

- It's a coastal battery.

- Get the hell out of here and flank speed ahead.

- [Seaman] Flank speed ahead.

- Hard right rutter, 10 degrees.

- Hard right rutter, 10 degrees.

- Abort fire.

(canons firing)

(telephone ringing)

- Redeker! Redeker! Full speed ahead.

- Full speed ahead.

(men shouting)

(bombs exploding)

- All at your battle stations!

All at your battle stations!

- [Man On Radio] All under fire. We are under fire.

- We're gonna lose that PT if we don't do something now.

- Be getting ready and get loaded. I need to be...

- Load up! Load up!

- Their sitting ducks on there, Skip.

- Collect the fire to the shore. Repeat.

- Collective fire to the shore.

Repeat. Collective fire to the shore.

- Fire on land, on land!

(guns shooting)

- Flank speed ahead! Flank speed ahead!

(loud blast)

- Skip, that was the last of our escorts.

- Damn it! We got it if they got those guns.

- It's no use Skip.

- I didn't start this fight,

but I'm damn well gonna finish it.

Rapid continuing fire to the shoreline. Now!

- Rapid continuing fire to the shoreline.

Repeat! Rapid continuous fire to the shoreline.

- Let's get their asses. Come on!

- Come on!

(gun shooting)

- 20 degrees to port.

- Adjusting for elevation.

- How are we lined up?

- Fire!

(bomb firing)

(guns shooting)

- Reload! Reload!

(guns firing)

- Recover. Reload!

- Recover, recover. Reload, reload!

(guns firing)

(bomb exploding)

- Go check the pulleys for damage.

How is it?

- Can't take another one of those, Skipper.

- Turn it all around for another pass.

Hard left rutter.

- [Seaman] Hard left rutter.

- This is not a destroyer, Bill. We've gotta turn around.

- Get us the hell outta here, Helmsman.

- [Helmsman] Aye Aye, sir.

(fire crackling)

(soft music)

- Let's pick it up, boys.

I want to finish this detail before Christmas.

- I don't see you helping.

- Hey, you're working like you play chess, Moose.

Let's pick it up.

- Think we're taking this baby all the way to Berlin?

That's not how depth charges work, Bauer.

All right, ladies. We got five minutes.

Let's pick it up.

- A couple of dents that could use hammer.

Otherwise, she held up okay.

- This isn't what I had in mind, Redeker.

I didn't sign up to get shot at.

- Krauts aren't everything.

- This isn't the Navy. We're Merchant Marine.

- Well, you think the Germans would grant us a deferment.

- Are those guard boys topside?

They're the ones trained for this nonsense.

I'm just here to keep this baby afloat.

- Look, it's all a matter of luck.

When was the last time you were back home in Noe Valley?

- Let's see...1941.

- Well, I've been home since then.

And I'll tell you, you wouldn't like it.

- You liar.

You've got the prettiest little family I've ever seen.

- That's what I'm saying! I am fabulously lucky.

- You, on the other hand, not so much.

- Look, it's like poker.

Out here, you're a respected sailor with a full house.

Back home, you maybe got a pair of sixes.

At sea, you ain't ever gettin' these Aces kid.

- Are you trying to make me feel better?

- Not really.

- Mission accomplished, chief.

- Hey, I'm always here for ya. I'm like the ship therapist.

I'm gonna start charging you guys.

(bombs exploding in the distance)

- I heard things got a little hairy out there.

How's things on Lawton B. Evans?

- [Snhow Over The Radio] Our last escort was destroyed

and we barely escaped alive.

But the ship took the brunt of it.

We're leaking more like a sieve and we'll be vulnerable

until we can repair it.

- [Barnes] Sounds like it was hell.

- I misjudged the situation, sir.

- Bullshit. The Jerrys have that entire coastline

armed to the teeth.

They've been rubbing our movements in that sector

for weeks.

It's only a matter of time

until you came up on a coastal battery.

Now listen, Snow, I know you had a bit of bad luck back

in Tunisia, but...

- I wasn't cut out for convoy, sir.

I was trained to fight.

- Yeah, well, those fighting instincts of yours

almost cost a thousand men their lives.

- I take full responsibility for my actions, sir.

I, alone, am to blame.

- That's why I'm going to give you a shot at redemption.

- [Snow] Sir?

- We're landing troops on Salerno Beach

in less than 48 hours.

- The invasion of Europe?

- Commander.

This is Major General Bradley.

- [Snow] General.

- Listen, we're looking to stick it to Hitler

by taking out his buddy Mussolini.

That sound good to you?

- Great, sir.

- Great. You might have noticed the coast

around Salerno is heavily armed with a battery of SS-88s.

The toughest gun in their army.

- Yes, sir!

- We're sending in two PT boats with commandos

to take out those guns.

We're going to need your men to provide artillery support

as heeded.

- The Lawton B. Evans, General?

- That's right.

The Krauts are looking to get a foothold back in Italy.

The fact is your little cargo ship

is the most powerful vessel that we have in that sector.

- I won't let you down, General.

- You're damn right you won't.

This is going to be the single most important mission

that you and your men on the SS Evans have ever conducted.

Thousands of lives depend on it.

- Understood, sir!

- You got 36 hours to get in there

and knock out all the enemy vessels before daybreak

or the invasion of Salerno will be in jeopardy. Understood?

- Yes, sir!

- He better.

- Listen, Lieutenant, I know this is a dangerous mission,

but...

- I am honored to be chosen for this duty, sir.

All I can think about is getting back in the fight.

- (chuckles) Well, I guess we wouldn't want it

any other way, would we? Barnes out.

- 0600, we're outta here.

- Italy.

- Hey...alright, alright, alright.

- Chorizo!

- Orozco? Cooking up some eggs and spam?

- Hey, Mr. Ford, I've been looking for you.

- [Ford] Yeah, what do you got?

- Well, you know how we were out of bacon.

- You got bacon.

- I got something better than bacon.

I got chorizo.

- Never heard of it.

- Whoo-hoo-hoo, you're gonna love it.

- You know I don't care about protein.

You know what I want?

- Mira. I know what you want. (laughs)

- I knew you'd come through!

(Orozco laughing)

What do I owe you?

- Hey, just your friendship, Holmes.

Oh, and ten bucks! (laughs)

- Deal.

- And, hey, Orozco...

when are you going to shave that mustache?

- When Hitler shaves his. (laughs)

(whistles)

- Hey, come get your eggs!

- Come on Moosie, before Snider does some more sit-ups.

(men chuckling)

(sighs)

- Would y'all quit it. You're giving me performance anxiety.

(men laughing)

(men groan)

- Are you sure you want to do that?

- Yeah, why not?

- Because...

No, no. Go ahead.

- What?

- Nothing.

- Just tell me what I'm doing wrong, okay.

You're going to do it.

- No, no, you're-you're doing great.

Don't listen to me.

- You sure?

- Promise.

You know, the funny thing about chess is,

you do the best move too early, it's a wasted move.

- [Seaman] That's right.

- Got to save the piece with the most potential,

which in this case, is the queen,

until you've exhausted all other options.

- Come on, Moose, this year.

(men chuckling)

(men groan)

- Oh, for crying out loud!

You know what? Put a shirt on.

You're already making me feel like crap.

(men laughing)

- I gotta stop bettin' on you, Moose.

(men laughing)

- Come on. Fishy, fishy, come on.

- Bauer! You think you're going to catch a German U-boat

with this thing?

- That'd make quite the trophy.

- [Irish] Ensign, I got Barnes calling for ya.

- Yeah, it would.

Commander?

- Ensign Ford?

- Yes, sir.

- I have a very important and rather unique request.

And I'd very much appreciate

that you keep it between the two of us.

- Of course, sir.

- I want you to keep an eye on our friend, Lieutenant Show.

- I don't understand, Commander.

- I know Snow is a great fighter.

I known that ever since he and I met on the battlefield

back in Tunisia.

- Toughest in the Navy, sir.

- But this is not the Navy, Ensign.

This is the Merchant Marine.

You've got a fine, capable crew.

But you and I both know that those boys

have neither the discipline or the training

to go against those Germans on their own.

- And that's just the fight that he's looking for, sir.

- Which is exactly why I need you to make sure

that he does not jump out of his freakin' boots

at the first smell of combat.

- I'd rather not challenge the Lieutenant

in front of the men, sir.

- I'm not asking you to challenge him.

Just be straight with him, Ford. He'll listen to you.

If there's any problem, I've got your back on this.

- Understood. Thank you, sir.

- And you'll be on the shore of Salerno in 34 hours.

That gives you 12 hours until the invasion fleet arrives.

We can not allow any diversions to get

in the way of landing on Italy.

Are we clear on this?

- Understood. I will do my best, sir.

- And that's all I ask.

- Ensign out, sir.

- Skip, Irish says by tomorrow visibility

should be close to nil.

- I heard.

Well, you think that's going to interfere with us

taking out those 88s?

- They aren't going to call off the invasion

just because it's foggy.

- Fancy a snort?

- Only if you can figure out a way to get this bucketed

Italian code without it falling apart.

- You are at the goddamn mercy of this war, Bill.

- Spare me.

- You've seen the battle maps.

All of us are just pins on a piece of paper

the admiral stick in there.

At the end of the day, both of us are just trying to survive

and not be that pin thrown in the trash.

- Yeah. I lost my buddy because I failed to do my job.

- Doug died because he was picked off by a German U-boat.

- I abandoned my convoy chasing shadows, pal.

- You saw a chance.

You had an opportunity to take out a pack of German U-boats.

If I were in your position, I'd done the same thing.

- Excuse me, Mr. Snow?

- Yeah.

- I got a reading a mile East.

- What do you figure?

- It's pretty big. It could be a U-boat.

- Thanks, Irish.

- If we steer clear north a couple of miles

we should avoid it.

- Let's bag it.

- Jesus, Bill, it's a U-boat. We should steer clear.

- This is my command damn it.

If we can catch that sub on the surface,

we can take her out. I say let's do it.

- Yes, sir.

- Tell the men to man the guns, prepare the depth charges.

The moves I can manage for a couple hours.

Bastards will never see us coming.

- Aye, aye, Skip.

- [Seaman Over Speaker] General quarters. General quarters.

All men man your battle stations.

General quarters. General quarters.

All men man your battle stations.

General quarters. General quarters.

All men man your battle stations.

General quarters. General quarters.

All men man your battle stations.

- General quarters, guys.

General quarters.

(rousing music)

- How's it lookin', Irish?

- I think we got the drop on 'em, Lieutenant.

Should be two o'clock, 800 yards out.

- I'm ea yin', he should have won MVP is all.

- Well he didn't. So, you know, who cares?

Does that matter?

Do you always blindly accept the judgment of your betters?

- That, and the Yankees won the World Series

while the Red Sox finished what...20 games back?

- And that's Ted Williams' fault?

- He's the MVP, Most Valuable Player.

How valuable can Ted Williams be

if the Red Sox can't win the pennant.

- I'm disgusted, my friend, that you should be so cavalier

to the injustice delivered by the hands

of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

- I think Robert Feller should have won.

- What!

- He had more strikeouts.

- Feller? You're an idiot.

- Don't you have work to do.

- Come on, I'm not even half-cocked. Let's get loaded.

- Reload Jefferies. Load up!

- Loading!

- I confirm that U-boat, two o'clock.

(tense music)

- Should we blast it with a 5-inch?

- Not yet. I want to get a little closer.

- Well, is that really necessary?

- If we want a confirmed hit it is.

I want to sink that bastard.

- Yeah, but the closer we get to them,

the better chance the Germans are gonna see us,

and those U-boats have 88 millimeters,

and I've had a taste of one,

and I'm not really us for another one.

- Or we can miss and end up with nothing.

- We've got the best gutters in the medic train.

They can hit an ice cream truck from this distance.

- If you don't like it, get your own command.

We're going in.

Take her slow ahead.

- Aye, aye, slow ahead.

(suspenseful music)

- 300 yards, Skipper.

- I need 12 degrees to starboard.

- 12 degrees to starboard.

- 200 yards, Skipper.

- 5-inch, lock and load.

- 5-inch, lock and load.

- Grovener, I'm lined up and I'm ready to kill 'em.

- Snow, we're locked and loaded.

- [Seaman] On target.

- Fire when ready.

- Five-inch fire! Repeat, five-inch fire!

- Fire at will.

- Firing!

- Fire!

(blast sound)

(guns firing)

(loud blast)

(guns firing)

(load blast)

- Take cover! Take cover.

- Hard right rutter, full throttle.

- Hard right rutter, full throttle.

- Give 'em hell boys.

(phone ringing)

- Hard right rutter, full throttle.

- Hard right rutter, full throttle.

(guns firing)

(bullets piercing the water)

- Where'd it go?

- I don't see it.

You see it, Grovener?

No, not from me. What about you, Jefferies?

- [Jefferies] Nothing over here.

- Who's got the binoculars? Eyes on the horizon.

- He's out of sight.

- Yeah, give me those.

He is not gettin' away.

Prepare depth charges, starboard.

- Aye, aye. Prepare depth charges, starboard!

Depth charge, Jefferies!

- Depth charge! - On it!

- Get the lead out, Jefferies. Come on!

- Release depth charges.

- Release depth charges.

(water splashes)

(depth charges explode)

(suspenseful music)

- Any sign of that sub?

- Not on the surface, Skip.

- Another 200 yards should do it.

- We need to disengage.

- Not a chance!

- Without the element of surprise the Liberty ship

is not going to do any good against a U-boat.

- We've got more guns. We've got bigger guns. Simple.

- It's not going to matter if we can't see the enemy.

- Do I need to remind you

who's commanding this ship, Ensign?

- No, sir.

- Dead slow ahead.

- [Seaman] Aye, aye. Dead slow ahead.

- Slow ahead!

- Aye, aye.

- Where is it?

Anyone got eyes on it?

- No, sir.

- Come on, baby. Come on.

- Hell, that sub could be anywhere.

- He's beneath us.

U-boats can't go faster than 3 knots submerged.

If we can't knock him out,

at least we can give him a wake up call.

Drop depth charges.

- Depth charges, portside.

- Depth charges, portside.

Repeat. Depth charges, portside.

(depth charge explodes)

(suspenseful music)

- Torpedo! Torpedo!

- Torpedo, portside!

(loud blast)

- Let's get some distance. Flank speed, 10 degrees right.

- [Seaman] Aye, aye. Flank speed, 10 degrees right.

- Hard left. We're turning around.

- Aye, aye. Hard left.

- There! There he is! I see him!

- Hey Skip, I got two Krauts about to man that deck gun.

- Take 'em out. You want me to hold your hand?

- Yes, sir.

(gun firing)

(loud blasts)

- We've got maybe 30 seconds before they unload those guns.

- Get closer. Await orders.

- But, sir...

(speaking in German)

(guns firing)

- Take cover!

- Take cover!

(shouting)

- Take cover!

(bullets whizzing)

- What I say about those deck guns, Bauer?

- I'm getting my bearings.

- Get your bearings faster!

(gun firing)

(speaking in German)

- Oh! Oh Christ, Jefferies is shot.

- Come on buddy.

- We gotcha kid, it's gonna be alright.

- Come on now, you better breathe.

You ain't got permission to die.

- Come on, come oh, come on.

- No. No.

No, no, no, no, no. No!

- Oh!

- That's it. That does it.

Who wants to sink a Kraut submarine?

- I'd never thought you'd ask.

- This ends right here and now.

- Collective fire, continuous.

- [Seaman] Collective fire, continuous.

Repeat. Flank fire, at will, continuous!

- One degree on the right.

- All right!

- On the right!

- Come on.

- Come on!

(yells)

- I'm lined up and I'm ready to kill "em.

- Fire at will!

- Prepare to fire!

- Firing!

(loud blast)

(guns firing)

- Firing!

(loud blast in the distance)

- I got 'em!

- Tug down. Guards out.

(men cheering)

- Good work, fellas!

(laughing)

- Yes

- Yeah!

- We got 'em!

- We did it! Yeah, that's what I'm talking about!

- It looks like Bauer got his U-boat after all.

Good work, men. Great work!

- Skip?

- What is it?

- Jeffrey's is dead.

- Damn it.

- [Snow Over Speaker] Donald Jefferies didn't sign up

for this. None of you men did.

A merchant ship is built to move supplies,

not to go head-to-head with an enemy U-boats and destroyers,

but that's what we've been assigned to do.

No, Jefferie's didn't volunteer for this kind of work,

but when you called to duty, he performed valiantly.

He did what he had to, when he had to do it,

without concern for his own safety.

He wanted nothing more than to get off this bucket

so he could head home and take over the family farm,

but he didn't get that chance.

He's not going to get to go home

because he got killed doing his job,

his job as an American.

The best we can do going forward is to respect his sacrifice

by doing our jobs, so we can all get out of this mess

and get back to our families where we belong.

- Commander Barnes?

- I understand that you ran into some action.

- Yes, sir. We lost a man in a fire fight wit a U-boat, sir.

- Jesus! This is exactly what I did not want to happen.

- It couldn't be avoid, Commander.

- Are you telling me there was nowhere else

in the entire ocean for you to go

except head-to-head with a German U-boat?

- It was us or them, sir.

Lieutenant Snow saw an opportunity and he took it.

- There was no opportunity! You have a mission.

This is Snow being Snow.

I know you're going to need his fighting spirit

when you reach that coast,

but not one damn minute before.

Now, I want you to tell me,

between the two of us,

can you keep Lieutenant Snow on course?

- I will do everything short of muting

to keep the Lieutenant on target, sir.

But, sir...

- But what, Ensign?

- We're sitting ducks out here,

and we both know the men are not combat ready.

They got a lot of heart but...

- What are you driving at, Ford?

- Is there really no help in the area for us, Commander?

- Every damn vessel is accounted for and you know that.

- Any escort would be much appreciated, sir.

- You do your part and make sure Snow clears that beach

and I'll see if I can find someone to divert.

- Thank you sir.

(knock on the door)

- Come in.

- Those were some nice words you said out there.

- Well the kid was 19 years old.

How do you sum up a man's life

when he never got to live one?

- We wouldn't be burying him if you didn't take on that sub.

- What's that supposed to mean?

- We're burying a man at sea

because you're acting like you have something to prove.

- We had a chance to sink a U-boat.

I'm not going to back down from that responsibility.

That's my job.

- Not on this mission.

With all due respect, sir, your recklessness

has caused a young man to lose his life

when we should be on our way to Italy,

to clear that coast out for our boys invading,

so they don't get cut to shreds

by the most dangerous gun the Germans have.

- A PT boat was lost, an entire crew killed

because I didn't have the guts to take action.

I'm not going to make that mistake again.

- They were killed because of your recklessness.

Jefferies is killed because you didn't listen to your crew.

- We're in a war.

You told me yourself, you cannot choose your battles.

You said that.

- Well, I was mistaken.

Sometimes you can make a choice

and you made the wrong choice.

Look, it can happen to any one of us.

Look, just stop worrying about your guts.

You are the toughest man I know.

- Are you finished?

- I make no promises.

- Sir? I have General Bradley on the radio.

- Bradley. - Bradley?

- Don't let that go to your head.

(bombs exploding in the distance)

- Lieutenant, good news.

The Italians are out of the war.

- Italy surrendered?

- That's right. Ike announced it 10 minutes ago.

We always knew the Italians were paper tigers.

They quit the minute we took Sicily,

which means those 88s are going to be manned

by Kraut Nazi troops.

- And they never faced U.S. Navy, sir.

- It's going to be one hell of a fight,

but I'm counting on you to take that beach.

- I got the best crew in the U.S. Navy.

- So I've heard. Commander, anything you'd like to add?

- Well, Snow, you can expect the Germans

to take over Naval operations as well.

- The Nazis don't miss a beat do they, sir?

- No they do not.

You're going to be faced with German destroyers

and F-lighters up and down that coast.

These boys don't play nice.

- Neither do we, sir. Neither do we.

- Come on. Act like you want to win some money.

- You're gonna want to win. You're gonna lose.

- Give it right here. Put it on the table.

- Hey, how about not cheatin' this time?

- Yeah, I heard about you.

You know exactly what you're doin'.

- Yeah you already got three Aces.

- Yeah, I don't know why you're dealin'.

- I got six Aces there once.

- Yeah. (laughing)

- I'll tell you what boys,

with all this money I'm about to win

I'm going to get a tattoo...of my girl.

(men groaning)

- [Orozco] Hey, Bauer! Your meatloaf special.

- Grovener, you got that?

- [Grovener] Yeah, I got it.

- Thanks, pal.

- Bauer, you gotta try this.

This is the best meatloaf in the world.

(chuckles)

- That's rough. I don't know what my mom would do

if I got a tattoo.

- Ah, you know what? Everyone you get it'll desensitize her.

I know mine did.

(men laughing)

- You're gonna love Cookie's special meatloaf.

Best meal of the month.

- Oh yeah. (chuckles)

- I could eat a bear.

Hey Cookie, you want in on this game or what?

I need someone with some balls

and isn't afraid to lose some money.

(all groaning)

- I gotta get back in the kitchen

and, uh, make another special meatloaf.

- Go ahead, take a little bite, Bauer.

- Take a good hit, Bauer.

Make sure you get a good one so you got all the flavor.

- Yeah, yeah, yeah. The whole thing.

- Oh, that's real good, huh?

- Whatcha think about that?

- He likes it.

- That's pretty tasty isn't it?

What's wrong?

(coughing)

- No, that's not hot. Keep going.

(bangs hand on table)

- Ooh-wee, that's hot!

- Oh yeah, it's real hot.

(laughing)

- Give me the water!

(all laughing and banging hands on table)

- What are you doin'? What are you doin'?

- What the hell, Cookie!

You wanna make the meatloaf a little less spicy next time.

(men continue laughing)

- Hey, that's the way we do it in Texas, okay.

Put a little hair on your nuts.

(men continue laughing)

- Hey, where are you going?

(laughing)

(all groaning)

- Hey, so gettin' ahead in 56 straight games

isn't a big deal?

- It's a huge deal, but it's trivial.

Come on, if somebody puts milk bottles on their heads

and balances 'em, it's impressive,

but it don't mean they should be president!

- That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. Milk bottles?

DiMaggio is the greatest center fielder of all time.

- But did he bat .400?

- Still the Braves are doing good this year.

- That's just...

What!

- I'm beginning to think you don't know

what you're talking about.

- Get this guy outta here.

- Yeah, get outta here, get outta here, get outta here.

You're not here, you're not here, you're not here.

- Get over there.

- All right, come on.

- All right, well I'm gonna finish this.

Who wants to finish this?

- Yeah, yeah, I'll take a bite.

Just leave it right here. Leave it right here on the table.

Leave it right here on the table. All right, let's go.

(static on radio)

- Counterintelligence is now reporting increased

German Naval activity off Salerno.

Looks like Hitler wants to hold

on to Italy as long as he can.

- Yeah. And aerial reconnaissance just spotted

what looks like an enemy destroyer

opposite the coastal artillery unit.

- I hope Snow and his cowboys are ready.

- They'll be ready, sir.

- You think they can handle a Kraut destroyer

with 5-inch guns.

- Snow's a salty son-of-a-bitch, sir.

If anyone can it's him.

- You better be right.

(glasses clink)

- Hey, a roof...now that's major home improvement.

- That's what I've been tryna tell her.

- Yeah. Definitely something she shouldn't try on her own.

- It leaks a little, I get it,

but, you know, put a bucket down or something

until I get back.

I don't wanna be ripped off

because some jerk knows I'm overseas.

- Hey, a guy could take advantage.

- Yeah, exactly.

- A single woman at home by herself, helpless...

Come on, it happens all the time.

- Wait, what? What do you mean? No.

We're in love. She wouldn't do that. Right?

She wouldn't-She wouldn't do that.

- [Man On P.A] Irish to the bridge. Irish to the bridge.

- You better go!

- D-d-d-don't try to change the subject.

I'm coming right back.

(chuckles)

- Hey, you thinkin' about swimming to Italy?

- (chuckles) No. I wasn't supposed to get

into another firefight again.

- That wasn't the plan,

but here we are, pal.

- Boy I've been in one war,

and that's one too many.

- I'd feel the same way if I served on the Jacob Jones.

Whew!

- Wow. I was so proud to be a man in a 4-incher,

on a world-class destroyer. (chuckles)

I was good, too. Boy I was real good.

- So I heard, Cookie.

(Cookie chuckles)

- You know what, after we got torpedoed, (sighs)

The Jacob Jones went down so fast.

We didn't even send out a distress call.

60 men...60 men lost in eight minutes.

I swore I'd never be on a combat ship again.

- Well, if it helps, if it's any consolation at all,

you are the best cook in the U.S. Navy.

- (laughs) You damn right. I take care of my men.

- If there's one thing I've learned in this man's Navy

is that everybody's got their own part to play,

from the galley to the head

and all the assholes in between.

It takes all of us to make a Navy ship,

even a broken down Liberty ship like the Lawton B. Evans.

(Cookie laughing)

- You know what, I better get back to the kitchen.

- Okay.

- You know what, why can't we have any tequila on this boat?

- Because we're in Europe.

If we go to war with Acapulco, I will get you some tequila.

(laughing)

- Acapulco, here we come.

(tense music)

- Keep an eye out for any vessel

that might try to kill us in this mess.

- As always, Skip.

- Yeah, watch out for some giant squid while you're at it.

- Definitely. That's the last thing we need.

- Not too far from the coast, are we?

- Just out of our radar.

- So about 30 miles?

- You know, you got a hell of a crew here.

- Best in the Navy.

And that's not just somethin" I tell people.

(gentle music)

- Whoa, whoa, whoa. You can't do that.

- Why not?

- That's not a move. It's not a chess move.

(men laughing)

- But it makes sense.

That's...That's where I want my piece to go,

so I put it there.

- Knights don't move like that.

- [Moose] Why not?

- (scoffs) What do you mean "Why not?",

those are the rules.

- But...

- Aw geeze. - Can a...

Can a pawn do that?

- Yeah, of course.

- Well then why not the horse guy.

- We've been over this. Knights do this L-shape thing.

- Oh. Aren't knights more valuable than pawns?

- Yeah.

- So then why can't they move like pawns?

- I don't know! Just...

- You a philosopher now, or what? Come on.

- Knights can't do the thing you're trying to do.

They only move in this L-shape way, like we talked about.

- [Seaman] Oh. Whoa!

- That better?

- Yeah, that's a...

(men goading)

(Snider groans)

- What's happening?

- [Snider] Noth-nothing.

- [Moose] Did-did I just...

- Seriously?

- Did I win?

- [Seaman] You better tell him.

- I won, didn't I?

- [Snider] Mm-mm.

(men cheering)

- Yeah! Oh, I see it in your face, I beat your ass.

One for Minnesota!

(men continue cheering)

- [Man Over P.A.] General quarters, general quarters.

All men man your battle stations.

- I win!

- It doesn't count.

- [Man Over P.A.] General quarters, general quarters.

All men man your battle stations.

- General quarters!

(suspenseful music)

- Bauer, we got a destroyer in the area. General quarters.

- If I catch one I'll let you know.

- Man your post, sailor!

(fishing line catches)

- Get us lined up, Grovener.

- [Grovener] Gotcha lined up. I gotcha lined up.

- All right, all right.

- All right, we're in line. We're in line.

- You sure it's that destroyer?

- I don't know, but it's big.

- Should we reverse course?

Now let's pause awhile and see what that thing is

and where it's headed. Dead slow ahead.

- [Seaman] Aye aye, sir. Dead slow ahead.

(suspenseful music continues)

- I don't see nothing.

- Bauer, general quarters.

- I know, but-but, sir...

- We're head logging a destroyer sailor, get the lead out.

- I got something, sir.

I don't know what it is, but it's gotta be pretty big.

Well, why didn't you tell me? Here, let me reel it in.

You go prep your gun.

- Thank you, sir.

- Yeah.

- You have no idea how much this means to me.

Yeah. I got it. I'd hate for you to lose your fish.

- Thank you, sir.

(fishing rod splashes in the water)

- [Bauer] No!

- We're in a war, sailor.

You go man that gun or I throw you in the drink.

- Do you see it?

- Oh, God bless it.

- I don't hear anything.

- Oh man.

I can't believe that we're looking for a destroyer

instead of delivering supplies.

If only my old man could see me now.

- I hear nothing. Do you?

- Not a damn thing!

(brooding music)

- You see anything, Grovener?

- No, I don't see nothin", Tony.

- That's what scares me.

- (sighs) I know we got a destroyer out there.

I just can't see it.

- The standard operating procedure for pea soup.

- What I'm doing is moving as little as possible.

Any update on that ship?

- It's close, sir. Real close.

- Well, lucky for us, Kraut radar is as bad as ours.

Also need to make sure we don't drift too close

to the shoreline in range of those 88s.

- Back in Annapolis, they don't tell you what to do

if you can't see or hear anything.

- Yeah, well, that's why they pay you the big bucks, sir.

(Snow chuckling)

- I expected more than 150 bucks a week.

(Ford laughing)

- See anything?

- No.

(brooding music)

- I got nothin'!

- There's something on the radar.

- You guys hear that?

- Yeah I still hear it.

- It's getting closer.

- Destroyer coming right at us!

Thirty degrees to port, thirty degrees to port!

(tense music)

- It's coming right towards us!

- Hard right rutter.

- Hard right rutter.

(tense music continues)

- Prepare depth charges. Full astern.

Fire at will. Fire at will.

- [Seaman] Full astern.

- Depth charge starboard. Now!

- [Seaman] Depth charge starboard. Now!

(guns firing)

- Fire!

- Let's light 'em up boys.

- Light 'em up!

- Come on!

(guns firing)

- Ready to fire.

- Firing!

- Did we get 'em?

(tense music)

(guns firing in the distance)

- We got men on the shore! Krauts on the shore!

(loud blast)

(guns firing in the distance)

- We found those guns you're looking for.

They're gonna tear us to shreds.

- You think I don't know that?

(bomb blasts in the water)

- Ah! Take cover.

- Take cover, take cover!

- Ah, we got Krauts coming from that coastal battery.

- I want to see heavy fire directed to that beach.

- Fire all guns!

(guns firing)

- Reload, reload.

- Firing!

(loud blast)

- Oh, my foot!

Ah, it got me in the foot.

Ah, get off me! Get off me! I got a job to do.

- Shut up you moron!

- I'm trying to...

Oh my goddamn foot!

It's just a nick, it's just a nick.

- Oh no. You remember Curry?

He almost died when he shot himself in the toe.

- I'm not gonna die.

- You don't know that!

Now come on, let's get you below deck

and get you to see a medic.

Get up you big lug!

- You got me?

(grunts)

- Come on.

(guns continuing to fire)

- Sir you gotta watch that port

or you're gonna take a bullet.

- My time will come when it comes.

- They better be avoiding those U-boats.

- They better!

(guns firing)

(guns firing in the distance)

(tense music)

(loud blast)

- That wasn't good. It sounded like the engine room.

(grunting in pain)

- Redeker, are you okay?

- [Redeker] I'm all right. Call topside.

(grunts)

- Clevenger, were you hit?

- It fell and tore through the side.

Boiler one's down, and boiler two

is gonna need patching fast.

- Can you get it patched up?

- I can try. I can try and patch it,

but what about getting to Salerno?

- I'll send some men to work the pumps.

- I'm fine. It's fine. I'm fine, Tony.

It's nothin' all right?

- Let's see how nothing it is.

- (yells) It hurts!

- Ah, how's that feel?

- It hurts!

- And there?

- It still hurts!

- Ah, geeze.

- Sounds like a ceasefire. Maybe we're out of range.

- Oh God. What are you trying to do, kill me?

- I'm not trying to kill you.

I'm just trying to make sure you're not dying!

- Listen, you can't say nothing to no one.

I don't want to get sent back to Sicily. I'm fine.

- Well, maybe I want you to go back to Sicily.

- Maybe I'll shove my boot up your ass!

- Wait a second. You ain't even been shot.

You got shot in the boot!

- Well, it still hurts.

- Yeah, it hurts because you're a wuss.

Come on, let's get back in the fight.

- Here we go.

- Chief! Chief! No, no! Hey.

We got-we got help coming.

We got help coming, so just hold on.

- I don't think that's going to be necessary.

- What are you talking about?

I just gotta stop the bleeding.

I just gotta stop the bleeding.

- Clev?

- No, I just got to hold pressure right here.

- Listen.

(yells) Would you just shut up for a second!

Clev, stop!

Clev, stop.

When you get back to San Fran,

I want you to tell Em and the girls that I love 'em.

- Okay.

(Clev sniffs)

- And that I'll see 'em on the other side.

- I will buddy.

- You'd do that for me.

- Yes, of course.

- You're the best friend I got, Clev.

- No. (crying)

No, no, no, no, please, please.

(crying)

(somber music)

(guns firing)

- The boys are stemming the bleeding.

We're powerless for another hour, but we'll stay afloat

if we don't take another hit like that.

- [Irish] What should we do?

- We'll never make it out of here without full power.

Maybe we don't have to.

- [Irish] What?

- [Snow] Cease fire. Cease fire.

- Cease fire? We're gonna be sitting ducks.

- Or maybe not. What if they think they already sunk us?

Have the boys throw everything we don't need overboard,

pots, pans, clothes, pin-up girls, and a bunch of our cargo.

I don't care what it is. The tide's headin" in.

Everything we throw overboard

to make it look like we've sunk.

Come on, get to work!

Go, go, go, go, go, go, go!

- I don't care what it is.

We got Krauts firing at us from all sides.

If it's not central to the war effort,

I want it thrown in the griney deep, do you understand?

- What if it's a nice piece of jewelry?

- Toss it.

- Even if it's real small.

- No, d-don't worry about it.

Okay, so if it's a big gold necklace, for example,

we should throw that in the ocean?

- Did you rob a pirate ship, Bauer?

- While a small ring...

- Shut the hell up, Bauer!

I want all this stuff off the boat in the ocean!

- So long trash!

- You ever figure what happens

if this stuff is discovered by the Germans?

- It's the law of averages, Moose.

Maybe they'll find this stuff, maybe they won't.

- But are they supposed to?

- Ideally.

- See, I think about the ancient Egyptians.

They were always hiding things and they couldn't have known

whether we'd find them or we wouldn't.

- What's your point?

- Oh, nothin'. I'm just wondering if everything

isn't pointless.

- Wow. We're on a junk detail

and you're getting existential on me?

(bomb flies overhead)

- Scheisse! Let's get outta here.

- Are we battin' down?

- They can't fire so we're to head toward shore.

- Let's hope that satisfies our German friends.

(soft music)

- It's just unwarranted is all I'm saying.

- Uh-huh. All right, hand me the philips.

- That fishing pole...it survived Casablanca,

Algiers, Tunisia, um...Mezina.

- Did you catch anything?

- What?

- You ever actually catch anything?

- So what if I didn't?

- Well, then the pole itself doesn't matter much,

does it? I mean, you might as well have used the beget.

- It's the principle, Irish.

That fishing pole was not his to throw in the ocean.

- Well, he's an Officer, so it kinda is.

(static)

- (laughing) Oh, would you listen to that.

Oh, I'm a genius! Whoo!

- For the boys working on comms, we got maybe 40 minutes

at 10% power.

- Make it last. We have less than 24 hours

until the fleet arrives.

- We'll try, sir.

(suspenseful music)

- No sign of the enemy.

Gotta hand it to you, sir, I thought we were a goners.

That idea of yours, kind of had us in one heck of a pickle.

- Well, we're not out of the woods yet.

- Captain? I have an update on the engine.

- Give it to me straight down, doc.

- Clev says we can't do better than a quarter power

until we get more parts.

- What about fuel?

Do we have what we need to get back to Sicily?

- Probably have enough to get halfway to Palermo.

- (sighs) Gather the men. We need to have a talk.

- That was quite a melee.

The Krauts hit us with everything they had

and you boys performed brilliantly.

(clapping)

- Yeah!

- You know, I've been eager to get back to Salerno

to take out those guns,

but the engine room bore the brunt of the fighting,

and the ship ain't much without her engines.

Now, the boys down below have done one hell of a job.

But the truth is we're down 75%,

and we only have enough fuel

to get us about halfway back to base.

The way I see it,

there's no choice but to abort the mission.

(men shouting in disagreement)

- Hey, lock it down sailors.

- If we try to reach shore under these conditions

there is no going back.

I mean, once we're onshore, we own it.

Or, we lose it. There's no middle ground.

And if we're lucky enough to survive until morning,

and I say if, there's no guarantee we'll have enough fuel

to escape whatever fighters or destroyers

they'll send after us. Are you with me?

- What difference does it make

if we can't make it back to Palermo?

- We have enough fuel to steer clear of the beach.

We'll radio for a tender.

- I'm not crazy about it.

- Yeah. I didn't get shot just so I could go back to Sicily

without seeing Salerno.

- Trying to reach the beach without enough fuel

is a suicide mission.

- Always wanted to go to Italy.

- I hear it's lovely.

- I can't ask any more of you fellas

than you've already given.

- Skipper, I remember watching that PT

gettin' hit the way they did,

and I've been sick about it ever since.

Everything we've done all night has been to get back

at the Germans.

And we're so close now it'd be a crime to have to head back.

- It ain't just Moose, I've been feelin' the same way.

- Skip we got Commander Barnes on the radio.

Dismissed, men.

- We can't just...

- This is too important.

- Do you mind?

- Not everyone's a coward like Marca here.

- [Marca] You got some real nerve, you know that?

- Oh, you know what, boss, then just shut your mouth.

- Oh come on buddy boy.

- Oh yeah, what are you thinkin'?

- I'll make that pretty face somethin" else.

(men shouting)

- Hey!

(static)

- Lieutenant Snow, we're calling off your mission.

- [Snow On Radio] Commander Barnes? Commander Barnes, over.

(static)

Commander Barnes? Commander Barnes, over.

Come on.

- Damn it. Hello...

Bill, are you there?

- Commander Barnes?

(static)

Commander Barnes, over.

- [Barnes] Show?

- Ford, fix this radio.

(static continues)

- Listen to me.

If you can hear me, the two PTs that were carrying commandos

for the assault were damaged by Nazi fighters

and had to turn back.

If you reach that beach you are going to be sitting ducks

for those 88s. Do you copy?

Snow, you need to pull back! Hello?

- Give me that.

Snow, you heed to get the hell out of there right now,

you understand?

- [Bradley Over The Radio] Lieutenant, can you hear me?

Lieutenant, you need to pull back immediately. Do you read?

(static continues)

He better not blow that, you understand?

There's 10,000 lives at risk.

- Yes, General.

- Keep trying.

- You better get these goddamn comms working

one way or the other. You hear me?

- Yes, sir.

- Well, men, sounds like this is the end of the line for us.

You heard the man's orders.

- I didn't hear a thing.

- We had some kind of radio malfunction, Mr. Snow.

I didn't hear nothin'. Did you fellas?

- I didn't hear nothin'. Irish?

- I tried to fix it, but you know me...all thumbs.

- I guess the waif attack must have knocked out the radio.

It's been dead ever since.

- Don't look at me.

My hearing's shot from all those depth charges.

- All right, men, prepare for deployment.

We're about to invade Italy.

(men cheering)

Get outta here.

Our mission, gentlemen, is to take out

two German 88 millimeter guns,

and the location is right here.

About 50 yards south there's another German encampment

comprised of about 40 men.

Then, to the North of that is an encampment much smaller

in between 5 and 10 men.

If we reveal our position, they have enough fire power

to blow us sky high.

That's what we plan to land here,

keeping the Evans safe from harm.

Now, from here, you work your way down to the guns.

Stealth is of utmost importance

as you approach the encampment north of the 88s.

You'll need to take out the first gun.

Then, what's most important is these men south of it

in this foxhole.

After killing these men as quietly and quickly as possible,

you can then proceed to destroy the last gun

before returning to the ship for cake and soda.

Any questions?

- No, sir.

- If I'm half the man,

I'd say that's the craziest plan I've ever heard.

- He's right.

(men chuckle)

Let's go win a war.

(tense music)

- We want this short and sweet. Got it?

We're here to take out those 88s

and we only have 45 minutes to do it.

So we want as little interaction with the enemy as possible.

The last thing I want to see is entire unit of Germans,

are you with me?

- Ready and willing, sir.

- Good. Now here's some cold, hard facts.

If I hear sustained fire coming from the beach,

I have no choice but to withdraw. Do you understand?

- You got it, sir.

- This girl can't withstand one more hit,

and I can't risk the rest of the fellas.

Remember, you've got thousands of American

and British troops on their way.

So if you get in any trouble boys, fight like hell.

Help is comin". All right?

- Aye, skip.

- Let's go fight a war.

- Hey, Marca?

- Sir?

- Brew a pot of coffee.

We're going to need it when we get back.

- Yes, sir, with cream.

- Lower the boat!

(tense music)

- We're about ashore now.

(tense music continues)

- Are you sure they're still asleep?

- They are sailor. They stay frosty.

- It's awfully quiet out there.

- All right, guys, get ready to disembark.

You keep your head down. You stay low.

- Moose and Snider, you're gonna take that North tower.

You're gonna plant your satchels.

Bauer and I are gonna take the South.

We meet back here. Keep your head down low go. Go!

- [Moose] Aye, Skip.

- General, with our comms down and knowing Lieutenant Snow,

I have to assume he and his crew are proceeding

with the original plan.

- If the Lawton B. Evans is detected

it could compromise the entire mission.

- Not if we take out those guns.

- What are you talking about?

- With those 88s out of the way

you can still establish that Salerno Beach as you planned.

- Barnes, I've got to get 10,000 allied forces

onto this beach end. Do you understand that?

- Yes, sir.

- Huh? And you think I want to gamble it

with some cowboys on a cargo ship

who think they could pull off some commando raid

against an elite SS unit? Is that what you think?

10,000 men at risk. You think they could pull that off?

- Yes, sir.

- I'm calling off the invasion.

- General, please. You gotta trust me on this.

Listen to me. Snow and I go way back.

He is a hell of a skipper

and if these boys say they can get it done

then, by God, they'll get it done.

We are not out of this, sir.

- Get me General Donahue.

Snow and his men don't take those guns out,

it's gonna be your ass.

- The Germans will never know what hit 'em, sir.

(German soldiers speaking in German)

(continuing to speak in German)

(German soldiers speaking in German)

(suspenseful music)

(knife slice)

- Grenade.

(grenade exploding)

(grenade exploding)

(percussion music)

- What's the plan, Skip?

- Prep your gun. We're moving in.

By the time we arrange those 88s,

the dynamite will have blow them to kingdom come.

All men to general quarters.

- All men to general quarters.

I say again, all men to general quarters.

(loud whistle sound)

(guns firing)

(suspenseful music)

- Is it set?

- Let's move, let's move.

(suspenseful music continues)

(tense music)

(loud explosion)

- That'll slow them Germans down a little.

- Sir, it looks like they just took out one of the 88s.

Waiting for visual confirmation on the second.

- You guys get yours set?

- Yeah, it should've gone off by now.

- This ain't good.

- I think it's best, I'm going back. Stay here.

- No, Skip, it's too late...

Ah!

(guns firing)

- I'm hit. - I gotcha buddy.

Come on.

- You got eye power.

- Sir, I got two Germans up on the ridge, 12 o'clock.

- You take the one on the right.

I take the one on the left on three.

One, two, three!

(guns firing)

- I got him!

- Nice shot.

- Why's it so quiet?

- Maybe they're falling back.

- Maybe we scared 'em off.

(plane engines roaring)

- Man the 50 millimeter, Irish.

- Me, sir. I'm-I'm an engineer.

- Make those Nazis pay the price

for taking the best damn gunners in the U.S. Navy.

- Yes sir!

- You guys hear that?

- You know how in "King Kong",

when all the dinosaurs run away

because they hear the giant ape coming.

- Yeah.

(plane engines roaring)

- Sounds like they got their giant ape.

- Hitter's rat!

- [Ford] Get down!

(guns firing)

- It's coming back around.

- All right, boys. Might as well go out fightin'.

Got enough ammo?

- Yeah, for a couple of minutes.

- It ain't gonna last that long. Ready?

Go!

(guns firing)

(loud explosion)

- Light 'em up fellas!

Leave no stone unturned or Nazi unshot.

(guns firing)

- Yeah, you're all set. Fire at will.

(loud blast)

- I'm not gonna lose anymore guys.

Get Moose up, let's get outta here.

Take it from shore.

- Come on. Come on buddy.

- Come on. I got you.

- Come on, come on, come on, come on. All right.

(grunting)

- Ready to get your ass beat in another game of chess?

- Yeah, and I need a new beating partner.

- At least you can't quit.

- It didn't count last time. So, re-match.

- Prepare for that high elevation shot.

- You got it. You got it.

- Loaded.

- Loaded. Fire at will.

(loud blast)

- Come on, we got Nazi sharks comin' in hot.

(guns firing)

- Eat my shorts, Hitler!

- Locked and loaded.

- Locked and loaded. Fire at will.

(loud explosion)

- Now that's what I'm talkin' about!

(guns firing)

- Holy cow! I got one. Did you see that?

- Oh, Jacob get over here and help him.

- He was shot. Watch his leg.

- General quarters!

- Lieutenant Snow, there's still one 88 remaining.

- Irish on the end port side.

- [Seaman] Let's go!

- Welcome back.

Good job. Let's go!

- Moose! Moose! You all right?

- Oh I've been better.

- Okay, come on. Drop that gun.

- Orozco, are you ready to get back in the fight?

- Can I kill Nazi?

- I hope so.

- Where do I sign, sir?

- Man the 20 millimeter.

- The 20, yeah! I'm 'bout to kill some of them.

- Let's go, let's go, let's go.

- I'm locked in.

Just give me something to shoot at.

- Skip says to lay down fire at the coastline.

- There we are.

(guns firing)

- Man down! Man down! Get the med kit.

(grunting)

- Come on. Come on.

- Get back in.

- Ammo. Reload, reload, reload!

Let's go, let's move!

Come on, come oh, come on, come on!

All right.

(guns firing)

- Major emits coming right for us.

Take cover, Grovener!

(guns firing)

- That was too close for comfort. Get up ya cold prick.

Ah, Jesus. Come on. No, don't, no, no, no, don't.

(yelling)

- Get back in your position, seaman.

We have to take out that last 88.

I'm sorry, sir. My gun trainer, Grovener, he's dead.

Can you please take the appointed position?

- Copy that, seaman.

(loud blasts in the distance)

- Time for some revenge killing.

I gotcha, sir.

(plan engine roaring)

(gun firing)

(88 gun firing)

- All right. On my command.

- Time for that revenge killing, sir?

- Five degrees starboard.

- Yes, sir. Five degrees starboard!

- Let's kill those Nazi bastards.

- On target, sir.

- And...fire!

- Fire!

(loud blast)

- Yes!

- Yeah!

(men cheering)

- We got 'em! Way to go, Cap. Way to go!

- Oh, yeah!

- Yes! That was one in a million, Captain.

You happy now asshole? Thank you so much, sir.

Grovener would have love that. Grovener...

I guess we invaded invaded Italy after all, huh, buddy?

(airplane engine roaring)

- Not bad for a cargo ship, eh?

- One hell of a shot, Skip.

They way we're listed we're not going to last 20 minutes.

- Well then let's make it count.

(plane engine roaring)

(gun firing)

- Pleasure serving with you, Mr. Ford.

- Pleasures all mine, sir.

(guns firing)

- Oh. Major emits comin' in. (yells)

(guns firing)

- Nice shot, Irish.

- Thank you, sir.

- You ought to be a gunner.

- Plane comin' in! Whoa, whoa, whoa!

(guns firing)

- [Orozco] Oh! I got shot in the ass!

(gun firing)

- Oh. Medic! Bring some morphine, medic!

Medic.

- I gotcha.

- Morphine.

- Stay calm, stay calm.

- Oh, I'm always calm.

- Gotta put pressure on the wound.

- Okay...

Hey, hey! Get your hand off my ass!

- Stay calm, Cookie. I just gotta stop the bleeding.

- All right. Tell me the truth.

Am I ever going to sit again?

- Not with this butt.

- (crying in pain) I had such a pretty butt, too.

- Looks like hamburger now.

- Chorizo!

Say "chorizo", cabron. - Okay.

- Okay, chorizo.

- Ah, it hurts. Ah.

(guns firing)

- It's coming back. Look!

- Good luck!

(guns firing)

(plane exploding)

- Where'd that come from?

- Wait. What's that?

- Skip, look! It's our boys, come for the invasion.

- Whoo! Yeah!

(men cheering)

- U.S.A. baby!

(men continuing to cheer)

- [Snow Over The Radio] Well, I guess, I figured,

I didn't have a choice.

- That's no excuse Lieutenant.

You were given a direct order to stand down.

When you attacked those Kraut guns,

you put American lives at risk.

- Yes, sir. It's entirely my fault. I take full...

- Damn right! That was your fault.

- We didn't have enough gas to make it back to base, sir.

So...

- You chose to engage the enemy in direct violation

of my orders.

- We knew how important those 88s were

to German defenses, sir.

- Did you or did you not receive my instructions

to steer clear of the enemy until further notice?

- Um, yes and no.

- Yes or no, Lieutenant.

- Yes, sir.

- Now you listen carefully and you listen good

because I'm only gonna say this once.

Although I'm tempted to court martial your ass,

that was one of the most brilliantly executed commando raids

I've ever heard of.

And I've been in this game a long, long time.

- Thank you, sir.

- Yeah, well if you ever disobey an order of mine again

I'll have your ass in a sling.

Having said that, and I can't endorse that behavior,

we will now be in Rome in less than a week.

- Anything we can do to help, sir?

- I don't know much, Lieutenant,

but I do know that the U.S. Navy is gonna need

some top notch commanders

if we're going to beat the Japanese.

- [Snow Over The Radio] Yes, sir.

- You think you can command a heavy cruiser in the Pacific?

- Sir?

- [Bradley Over The Radio] We'll be in touch, Lieutenant.

- We're doing okay.

(sighs)

- They're calling the invasion "Operation Avalanche".

I like that.

- The doc says they're going to be sending you home, Moose.

What do you think?

- You mean you'd have to pull your own weight for a change?

- (chuckles) I don't like it any more than you do.

- "The U.S. Fifth Army,

working in coordination with the British,

who ended a division at Taranto...”"?

Throw in the fact that Italy surrendered, and this is big.

Very, very big.

- Alright, Moose! See you in the funny papers.

- Aye, aye. You betcha.

- Hey Cookie, wait!

Just, you know, in case you get into another scrape.

- You know me too well, Irish. (chuckles)

- Hey Bauer! Ford wants to see you in the ward room.

- What does that jerk want?

- Ask him yourself.

(Moose chuckling)

- Marca said...

- You ever heard of knocking sailor?

- Sorry, sir.

(knocks on door)

- Come in.

- Marca said you wanted to see me, sir?

- Bauer. Bauer. Oh, yeah.

- Um, run those charts up to the skipper

on the bridge for me, would you?

- Seriously?

- Yes, seriously.

(Bauer gasps)

- It's all yours Bauer.

- Yes, sir. It's...It's beautiful!

- I knew you were going to piss me off at some point,

but I didn't want you to be without a fishing rod.

So, you know...

- This doesn't mean we're friends now, does it?

- Don't get carried away? Get out of here.

(Bauer chuckling)

Hey, shut the door!

- Sorry, sir. Thank you again, sir. Oh my God.

(soft music)

(crying)

I'm gonna miss your philosophy lessons again.

I got a little something for you.

Just in case you get stuck with a pair of sixes.

(exhales)

(sniffs)

(exhales)

- She all battened down?

- She's not sinking anymore.

- (chuckles) Small victories.

- How you holdin' up?

- Well, luckily I wasn't killed, only slightly injured.

Grovener was one hell of a sailor, wasn't he?

- One of the best right.

- Yeah. Right or wrong when you captain the ship,

you have to make decisions

where men's lives hang in balance.

Just has to be that way.

- It was no accident those thunderbolts had their way

with the Germans. The enemies had those 88s.

That wouldn't of happened. That was your doing, skip.

- I suppose it was.

- So you think these actions are going to get you back

on a warship where you belong?

- Well, if it does, would you care to be

my second in command?

- And miss running fruits and vegetables up the coast?

(chuckles)

- I'd be honored.

- Let's get this thing up and running.

- Yes, sir.

(emotional music)