All language subtitles for Hell Boats (Paul Wendkos, 1970).english

(MILITARY MUSIC PLAYING)

(SIREN BLARING)

(MAN SPEAKING GERMAN)

Open fire!

Open fire!

Hard to port.

Stand by, collision.

Dove, this is Blue Jay.

Commander Jeffords speaking.
We're going down.

Signal our position,
but don't stop
to pick us up.

Maintain contact
with convoy.

I repeat, do not turn back,

Yacov, give the order.
Abandon ship.

Abandon ship!

(WHISTLE BLOWING)
YACOV: Abandon ship!

Over here.

They're coming
straight at us.

(MAN SPEAKING GERMAN)

VICE ADMIRAL ASHURST:
Who've we got?

CARLTON: Jeffords, sir.
Lieutenant Commander
Thomas Jeffords.

Boat shot from
under him in the Channel.

Oh, he's been in hospital
for the last month.

He seems quite well
now, sir.

What's this?
He's American.

English mother, sir.

He volunteered September '39.

He's been with us
two and a half years.

Might be something
in him then.

Is he here?
He's outside, sir.

Have him sent in.

Oh, uh...

He doesn't chew gum,
does he?

No, sir.

Jeffords.

Good evening, Jeffords.
Good evening, sir.

Reading about you here.

Lost your boat
in the Channel, eh?
That's right, sir.

Good scrap, was it?

Good scrap, sir.

Good.

Got another for you.

Malta.

Commander Carlton
here will give you
the overall picture.

Rommel's got the Eighth Army
with its back to the wall,

Almost to the Suez Canal.

If he breaks through,

Well, there's not much
to prevent the biggest
pincer movement in history.

From here in the south
up through the Middle East

And from the north through
Russia and the Caucasus,

They'll have the whole
Mediterranean sewn up.

But Malta's a dagger
at Rommel's throat.

If Malta goes,
so does Egypt.

And if Egypt goes...

Malta's the hinge on which
the war can turn.

And it'll be your job to see
that it turns our way.

Now you understand
that, Jeffords.

This is not just a routine
probing operation. It's big!

Can you tell me
anything about it, sir?
No.

You might get yourself
captured en route.

Well, I think that's all.
Any questions?

Just one request.
What is it?

I'd like to have my old chief
assigned to the operation.

Who is he?
Chief Petty Officer
Adam Ben Yacov.

He's a volunteer
from Palestine.

See what you can do,
Carlton.

Aye-aye, sir.

Well, that's all,
Jeffords.

Yes, sir.

Oh, no.
There's one other thing.

You'll be reporting
to Commander Ashurst.

He's C.O. of Dragonfly,

The MTB base in Malta.

Ashurst?
Yes.

He's my son.

Give him my regards,
will you?

Yes, sir, I'll do that.

Well, good luck.
Thank you, sir.

Don't let the RAF
drop you in the drink.

Can I have your
attention, please?

We arrive in Malta
in 20 minutes.

As you know,
the Luftwaffe bases on Sicily

Are only a few minutes
flying time from Malta.

They will be waiting
to strafe the airfield
when we touch down.

We have a special procedure
to cope with this.

As soon as the plane
stops rolling,

All exit doors will be
thrown open.

You will deplane
as fast as you can

And make for
the blast shelters
alongside the runway.

Remain there until
the all clear.

One further matter.

The motors will not be stopped
while we are on the ground.

Try to avoid running into
the propellers.

We will need them
after you've gone.

(GUNS FIRING)

I wish to hell
you hadn't bothered.

With what?

All the trouble
you went to
getting me here.

(GUNS FIRING)

Lieutenant Commander
Jeffords, sir.

Ah, Jeffords!

Nice to see you.
Commander.

I wonder what you've
done to deserve this.

Done, sir?
Malta.

You know what we're like?

A castle under siege.

Nothing much can get in.
Nothing much can get out.

Subsistence rations,
constant air raids.

Don't know why they bother
to send more men in

Unless it's to share
the misery.

I believe you have
operational orders
for me, sir.

Yes.

Tell you anything about it,
did they?
No, they didn't.

Thank you.

Well,

There's your objective.

Augusta.

What is it?

It was an Italian
submarine base in Sicily.

Then the Germans
took it over.

Now they're using
the sub pens to store...

Glider bombs?

New weapons.

They're using them
against our Convoys.

Their planes drop them
at a distance,

They glide in radio
controlled to the target.

And they're
extremely accurate.

Only last week
50 of our ships set out.

Three made it.

Two of those sank
in the harbor.

We're supposed to be
hitting Rommel's
line of supply.

We're barely
holding on ourselves.

If we're to survive,
we must knock out that base.

(SCOFFS)

That sounds more like
a job for the RAF.

They can't do it.

There's a solid mountain
of rock sitting on top
of those pens.

They've neither the planes
nor the payload to touch it.

It's impregnable.

So now they want MTBs
to do the job.

Well, these orders tell me
what to do, where to do it.
They don't tell me how.

How is your problem.

"Approach and method to be
at the discretion of
the tactical commander."

They either have a very high
opinion of you or you've made
a damned nuisance of yourself.

What did you do?
Spill a bowl of soup
on an Admiral?

Well, uh,

Come and meet your crews.

I gather you didn't
volunteer for this show.

Who volunteers?

No sign of Willy yet?
No, sir.

Who's Willy?

10:00 Willy.
He's a Messerschmitt.

He, uh, sometimes
comes over for a bit
of fun about 10:00.

He'll come out of the sun.

Have to get used to him.

Jerry uses us for
target practice.

In fact, we're the
proverbial sitting duck.

By the way, I bring
regards from your father.

Saw the old man, did you?

Quite a reputation.
Something to live up to.

I just kicked
a chief petty officer
off my boat, sir.

He seems to be carrying out
some sort of general
inspection and inventory.

I don't know
who the hell he is.

That's probably my chief.

I asked him to
look things over,
give me his first impression.

Barlow, this is
Lieutenant Commander Jeffords.
He's taking over the flotilla.

How do you do?
How do you do, sir?

I'm looking forward
to serving under you.

However, I trust
the established chain of
command will still prevail.

I'm sure it will, Lieutenant.
My chief's always a bit
over enthusiastic.

He was downright
insubordinate, sir.

You'll like him better
in a fight, Lieutenant.

Barlow, have the ship's
company stand by to
meet the new commander.

Aye-aye, sir.

Young Barlow was
expecting to take
command of the flotilla.

Was he?

Yes, I...
I recommended him.

All right, break
these two open, will you?

Chief, muster all hands
on the pontoon.
Aye-aye, sir.

Bosun's mate!
Chief!

All hands to
muster on pontoon.

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

All hands muster
on the pontoon.

Come along, jump to it.
Come on, lads.

Come along. Come to it.

Come on, come on.
Shake it up, lads.

Come on, move it.

Ship's company,
attention!

Stand at ease.

Ship's company,
stand at ease!

Ship's company,

Lieutenant Commander Jeffords
is taking over the flotilla.

Barlow you've already met.

Sub Lieutenant Johnson.

How long have you
been out here, Lieutenant?

Just five weeks, sir.
Before that?

Destroyer, sir.

What made you switch
to MTBs?

Chance of command, sir.

You're, um...

Chief Petty Officer
Stanhope, sir.

Well?
Your nominal strength
is nine boats.

Two of them are in
the bottom of the harbor.
Air attack.

Three others are on a major
overhaul and three more are
well overdue for it.

Leaving an effective
fighting force of one.

And that's it.

(SCOFFS) All right.

Lieutenant Barlow,
there'll be a meeting
of all captains of boats

On the quarterdeck
in 10 minutes.
Dismiss ship's company.

Aye-aye, sir.

Ship's company,
attention!

Dismiss!

Gentlemen, I know
some of what you've
been through.

I know it's not easy
to carry on short of

Supplies, equipment,
no replacement personnel.

But now that we've been
selected for this
special operation,

I'm going to have
to demand an even
greater effort from you.

Operation, sir?

You'll hear all about that
when you're ready to go.

Ready in fighting ability
and aggressive action.

Are you suggesting...
I'm suggesting nothing,
Mr. Barlow.

I'm simply telling you
what to expect.

This operation requires
performances beyond
anything you've ever known.

What about spare parts, sir?

The ship carrying
our supplies was sunk.

Well, there are two boats
at the bottom of the harbor.

Strip those boats
of everything useable

And you'll have all
the spare parts you need.

All right, gentlemen,
that's all.

Sounded to me as if you were
trying to convince yourself
the operation has a chance.

Is there an alternative?

Do you have
a dry cigarette?

Sure.

Just throw the pack.

I'm starkers.

How's that?

Nude.

I left my clothes
up the beach.

Oh.

You're new in.

Just came in yesterday.

I could tell from the pack.
Haven't seen these in months.

Got a light?

(SIREN WAILING)

(BOMBS EXPLODING)

There's Valletta
getting it again.

Bloody Germans.

Here.

You know, you look
pretty silly in there.

(LAUGHING)

What do you suggest?

Here, take my shirt.

It'll get wet.
I know.

Do you think I'll be safe?

Who's safe in an air raid?

Thank you.

Shouldn't you be off
shooting guns at the Germans?

No. No, they're saving me
for something special.

How do I look?

You look wet.
(LAUGHING)

Listen, my name's...

Don't.

I don't like labels,
titles, names or ranks.

Especially ranks.

Put a name to something
and life gets complicated.

When you've been here
longer, you'll understand.

Understand what?

I know every face
on this island.

I know their birthdays,

Their good days,

Their bad days.

Meeting a stranger
is a rare luxury.

Hello, stranger.

So many people
on this island,

They're cold, like the dying.

You're warm.

Alive.

I'd better be going.

How do I find you again?

It's a small island.

Is that all the help
you're going to give me?

It's better, believe me.

(BELL RINGING)

Come on, you boys.
Move on.

What is it, sir?
German convoy.
Man your boats.

Let's go.

Cast off forward.

Cast off.

Move along there, get below.

Here you go, sir.

I can't stand this
much longer.

As long as we're trapped
on this island, we have to

Make it look as if
our marriage is working.

Marriages are made
with children.

Excuse me.

You can't walk out
on everything.

I can't walk out
on anything.

Not on this island.

Not on my job.

Not on you.

It was all over
with us, Alison.
You didn't have to come.

I came because I thought
there was enough love
between us

To want each other again.

Obviously I was wrong.

Get me off
this island, Roger.

Send me home.

I can't.

You're not eligible
for evacuation.

Alison, we're in a trap.

So you might as well
make the best of it.

Hmm.

Remember that's what
my father always
used to say?

E-boats and convoy,
port five.

Mid ships, steady.
Make.

Enemy in sight.

Two E-boats and convoy.

(INDISTINCT)

Course zero-zero-zero.

Speed one-five.
Cut wing engines.

Start wing engines!

(SIREN BLARING)

Open fire.

Get that bastard over there,
Thompson, on the port.

To all boats.
Am attacking
stern of convoy.

Keep closed up.
I repeat, keep closed up.

Port 10.

Mid ships, steady.

(SHOTS FIRED)

JOHNSON: Abandon ship!

(EXPLOSION)

(DISTANT MACHINE GUN FIRE)

Maintain contact
with convoy!

Barlow here.
I'm passing survivors, sir.

We'll pick 'em up
on the way back.

Starboard 20.

Lieutenant Barlow's
turning back, sir.

Damn him!

Maintain the attack.
I repeat, Barlow,
maintain the attack.

YACOV: Convoy got away, sir.

Shall we help
with the survivors?

No, Mr. Barlow seems to
have that well in hand.

Hard to port!

Navigator, give me a course
back home and our ETA.

Careful. Easy.

MAN: Lend a hand there.

MAN: Orderly, come here.

(CHURCH BELL TOLLING)

Could I have a word
with you, sir?

We'll discuss it
later, Barlow.

(KNOCKING)

(KNOCKING)

Come in.

I'm sorry, sir,
but Commander Ashurst

Would like to see
you at his office,
immediately.

I wouldn't delay, sir.
The Commander did seem

Most anxious
for your report.

I'm still waiting, Jeffords.
I'm still waiting for
a coherent explanation

As to why you didn't
give me your report.

I told you, sir,
I was planning to do
that in the morning.

Mr. Jeffords, on this base,
in this command,
you'll go by the book

Or so help me, I'll
slam it shut on you.

Understood?

I'll try to keep
that in mind, sir.

Now, your report.

I want Barlow replaced.

He told me he delayed
a run in order to
pick up survivors.

Personally, I don't
think that a reason
to replace him.

No, I do, sir.

Men killed and wounded,
and we let 12,000 tons
of German shipping escape

Because of a boat captain who
still hasn't learned the most
elementary principle of war,

The objective first.

Barlow was right
in one respect, morale.

If you leave men
swimming in the sea,

No one's going to be
happy riding with you.

I don't expect them
to be happy.

I expect them
to obey orders.

Was the signal sent
by wireless?

In clear.

Supposing the wireless
didn't function?

MTB operations rule one,
never turn back.

You're a cold-blooded
bastard, Jeffords.

No, no, I'm what
I've been made,

A boat commander sent on
a lunatic mission

With crews who haven't been
given a chance to volunteer.

No, I'm stuck with them just
like they're stuck with me,
but Barlow's out.

He's a good man.
Why not give him
another chance?

Commander,
nine days from now,
I've got a job to do.

Barlow isn't the kind of
officer I can do it with.

The men I need are going to
have to hit Augusta

Without thought,
without hesitation,

Without stopping to wonder

Who's going to live
or who's going to die.

The men I want are going to
know they're dead

The minute we enter
that harbor.

All right, Barlow's out.

There's one more thing,

I'll have to see Augusta.

I might arrange an aerial
reconnaissance.

No, that won't do it.
I have to go ashore.

That's been tried.
Six months ago
by Naval Intelligence.

We lost five agents.

(SIGHS) Then we'll just
have to try it again,
Commander.

I've got to lead
a flotilla in there
at night!

I have to know their exact
gun positions, the location
of the mine channels.

Photographs won't
give me that.

You said yourself this
was a lunatic mission.

This is madness.

Maybe.
Anyway, I'd appreciate it

If you'd set this
in motion through
proper channels.

(SIGHS)

Now with your permission, sir,
I'd like to get some sleep.

Carry on, Jeffords.

You can tell
Lieutenant Barlow for me.

As far as I'm concerned,
I did him a favor.

Ship's company, ho!

Stand the men at ease.

Ship's company,
stand at ease!

Stand easy.

(BELL RINGS)

And that, gentlemen,
is the last time you'll be at
ease for the next nine days.

On that, you have
my guarantee.

All right.
Now that we've met

And grown to love each other,
I'll lay it onto you directly.

Sometime, gentlemen,
in the next nine days,

We're all going
to be taking a little
cruise together.

Where we're going
and why is top secret.

For the moment,
all you need to know is

The mission is
of supreme importance.

And nothing less than
complete success
will be acceptable.

Now, on the basis of what
I saw on our last operation,

Our chances of survival
on this one are nil.

Now, since I don't like
committing suicide,

You're going to spend
every moment you're not
out on a combat mission

In training.

You'll work until this
flotilla satisfies me

That it is capable
in every respect

Of carrying out the job
we were selected for.

Are there any questions?

Good, then I suggest
we get started now.

(MACHINE GUN FIRING)

Lead the boat. No, no, no.
Lead the boat! Lead it!

I want them all out
here at 0600 at the mooring.

(BLOWS WHISTLE)

Man your positions!
Come on, move it!

MAN 1: Aye, sir!
MAN 2: Move it!

2760 too slow leaving port.

How are they shaping up?

They're good men,
but they...

But they don't like
the training schedule, hmm?

More than that.
They hate your guts, sir.

Well, that's straight
to the point anyway.

Why?

They think Lieutenant Barlow
was right and you were wrong.

What do you think?

I think if a man has
something to fight for,

He has something
to live for.

In other words, the man
before the mission?

Well, it depends
what each man sees
as his mission.

What's yours?

I fight to make way
for what I want.

To live in peace.

I see no difference
between us.

There wasn't,
not in the beginning.

There is now.

You see, there are
travelers and the hunters.

How's that?

If a traveler has
to pass through a jungle
on his way home,

And a wild animal
stands in his way,

He kills it.

And the hunter.

What does he do?

He goes into the jungle
for the killing,

And he's going nowhere.

And I'm the hunter,
is that it?

That's a question
you have to ask yourself.

I told you it was
a small island.

Hello, stranger.

Hello, Commander.

Can I freshen your drink?

Yeah, sure,

But not here.

Somewhere else.

Anyplace, you name it.

Anywhere, you say?
London, New York, Rio...

No.

No, I'm serious.

Don't be.

For all you know,
I could be quite vulnerable.

If not unavailable.

Look, if it'll help
you change your mind,

I'll settle for
just a quiet walk.

I am sorry, but it's
really quite impossible.

Is it?

I see you've met
my wife, Jeffords.

Please excuse me.

The, uh, Admiral's
interested in your idea
for a land reconnaissance.

It's on.

Seem there's an agent
who's got hold of an
Italian naval officer

Who wants to talk to us.
I don't know what he wants,

But since he was
Commandant of Augusta,

He may be able to help
get you into the base.

I suppose it's occurred
to you, sir, that this
may be a trap?

Yes, but...
But it's a chance
we can't ignore.

Our rendezvous
has been fixed.

Here are your sealed orders.
You slip at 2300.

Well, let's have a drink
before you go. Hmm?

You tell Barlow
about my decision?

I did. I think you
ought to know that

Barlow admitted
he received your order
and disobeyed it.

Well, anything else
before I go?

Just the good wishes
of us all.

BARLOW: Sir?

Yes, Barlow?

I want to apologize
for what happened
the other night,

And if I could have
another chance of
coming with you again, sir.

I need a captain for
a special mission tonight.

Are you on?

Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.

All right then, Mr. Barlow,

Meet me on the dock,
2300 hours.

Cut wing engines.

(GREETS IN ITALIAN)

You like opera, signore?

I like Traviata.

Me, I like Don Giovanni.

All right, that's it.
Stay out of sight
until sundown.

Momento.
I got a contract to deliver
one English officer ashore.

There'll be
two of us going.

Paolo, Luigi,
go with them.

(SPEAKING ITALIAN)

What's all that about?

The Germans.

See a boat with
three men go out.

They see a boat
with three men come back.

Salvatore is a thinking
man bandit, eh?

If I'm not back by 1900,
you know what to do.

Good luck, sir.

Hey, why don't you
talk like an Englishman?

Because I'm an American.
Let's go.

Okay, Joe. (LAUGHS)

(SPEAKING ITALIAN)

(CHATTERING)

(SPEAKING ITALIAN)

I would have fixed
two girls if I'd known.
Next time, eh?

(SPEAKING ITALIAN)

Come on!

Wait here.

Who are you?

Let's not talk about it now.
Just call me Luciana.

All right. This Italian
colonel I'm supposed to
meet, do you know him?

I know him.
He's commandant
of the port.

Can he be trusted?

He's the only one who
can get you to that base.

Luciana.

(SPEAKING ITALIAN)

(SPEAKING ITALIAN)

Where's the colonel?

He's not coming.
The Germans arrested him.

Damn!

It's a long way
to come for nothing.

(WHISPERING)

What is it?

It's the old man.
He says if it helps you
to look into that base,

He knows the way.

Right now, I'll take
anything I can get.

Okay, Joe. Let's go!

(GROANS)

(SCREAMS)

SALVATORE: You go on,
I'll cover you from here.

Well, this is it.
You can see it from here.

Be careful, there's
a German gun position.

Submarine pens
bearing one-zero-zero.

(SPEAKING GERMAN)

(ORDERING IN GERMAN)

Major gun emplacements.

Zero-five-five.

Zero-five-nine.

Zero-six-two.

Okay, that's it.

(GUN FIRING)

(KNOCKING)

(IN GERMAN)

Heil Hitler!

(IN GERMAN)

Uh-huh.

(SPEAKING GERMAN)

(SPEAKING GERMAN)

(SPEAKING GERMAN)

(GUARD SHOUTING IN GERMAN)

(SHOUTING CONTINUES)

(GUARDS SPEAKING GERMAN)

(GUNS FIRING)

(SCREAMING)

(GUNS FIRING)

Go! You got what
you came for.

(SPEAKING ITALIAN)

Hurry!
Yacov!

(GUNS FIRING)

(SPEAKING ITALIAN)

Come on!

No!

(MOANING)

Come on, run!

(GUARDS SHOUTING IN GERMAN)

(GUN FIRING)

Any word on Jeffords yet?

Keep me informed.

The coffee will
taste better hot.

Thank you, but it
wasn't really necessary.

Oh. Roger, I know
you're worried.

If you'll please stop
being so solicitous

And go to bed,
I'll do my best
not to fall apart.

You may not believe it,
but I haven't broken down
in days.

But of course,

Like everything else,
I owe that to you.

(SIGHING)

You really hate me,
don't you?

No. Hate implies
a certain passion.

I'm sorry, Roger.
I thought we could have
reached an agreement.

My mistake.

Obviously,
we both made a mistake.

It didn't happen
yesterday or last
week or last month.

This marriage died
a long time ago.

Why? Because I loved you.

I did it because I loved you.

Because night after night,
the only thing that
sleep brought you

Was the memory of
the men you'd seen
killed that day.

You were living a nightmare.
Tearing yourself apart.

I couldn't stand it.

So you went to my
father and asked him
to take me off combat.

And I'd do it again,
Roger, because I wanted
to save something of you.

Oh. Save me?

You destroyed me.

No, Roger.

You're destroying yourself
trying to measure up to him.

(SCOFFS)

Tell me, Roger,
why don't you hate
your father as well?

To hell with my father!
I don't give a damn about
him or your opinion of me!

The only thing I know

Is that thanks to
your loving intercession,

I'm where I am now.

Sitting out the war,
behind a desk.

Do you know
what was the best day
of my entire life?

The day
I finally realized

Just what you'd
done to me.

Once and for all, Alison,
stay out of my life.

Leave me alone.

All right, Roger.

You're alone.

You've always been alone.

Alison!

Don't judge me.

Not you.

You haven't the right.

(PHONE RINGING)

Yes?

Are you sure it's
Jeffords' boat?

Tell him to meet me
in my office as soon
as they've docked.

Lieutenant Commander
Jeffords, sir.

Ah, Jeffords.

This is Lieutenant Wallace,
Naval Intelligence.

Lieutenant.
Everything go off
all right, sir?

Yes, we got all the
information we needed.

I'm afraid you lost
your last agent
on Sicily, though.

Dead?

And our Italian friends?
Never showed.

What did you
get for us, sir?

Fixes on Augusta's
major defenses.

Here, here, here, here.

Hmm.

Did you, uh...

Did you get a look at
the submarine pens, sir?

Yes, they were wide open
when we saw them.

What about a couple
of torpedoes through
those doors?

No, sir, afraid
it can't be done.

First sign of trouble,
Jerry lowers those doors.

And you couldn't penetrate
it with a battleship.

We could, if we got
men inside those pens.

With explosives.

You can't even get
into the harbor,
let alone the pens.

A Trojan horse.

A Trojan horse.

Yes, we have to
capture an E-boat.

You're not serious.

Dead serious.

I wasn't sure you'd come.

Can't be sure of
anything these days.

I felt I owed
you an explanation.

No, you don't owe me
any explanation.

Look, I met you.
I liked you. I wanted you.

Then I found out you're
my commanding officer's wife,

End of story.

I'm not a wife.

And I'm not what
you're thinking.

How do you know
what I'm thinking?

(SIREN WAILING)

(MUFFLED EXPLOSIONS)

(IN GERMAN)

(SAILOR SPEAKING GERMAN)

Why so much trouble
to capture one, uh,

Inconsequential E-boat?

Really wasn't all that
much trouble, Captain.

Now, if you'll excuse me.

SOLDIER: Come on then.
Pick 'em up. Come on.

I, uh... I gather you
don't think very much
of the plan, sir.

Plan? What plan?

That is a scheme
for disaster.

Captured E-boat stealing
into enemy harbor.

A flotilla of MTBs
casually thrown away
in a diversionary action.

Underwater swimmers.

As a matter of interest,
just where do
they come from?

Myself, the two CBOs,
Yacov and Stanhope.

We've all had
the basic training.

I can't possibly allow
you to proceed.

I think the whole scheme...

I really don't give
a damn what you think,
Commander.

I didn't come here
to ask your permission.
I don't need it.

Mr. Jeffords,
I'm your commanding officer.

That's right, sir.

In everything
except the detailed

Planning for
the assault on Augusta.

My authority for
that's the Admiralty.

That does not justify
insubordination.

If you persist
in this attitude,

I shall take it up
with the Admiral.

You can take it up
with who the hell you like.

All I want from you is
authority to draw those
special stores.

You don't get it.

What is it with you,
Commander?

I mean, where do you
get off with these
obstructions?

I've worked out a plan
which is at least feasible.

And it's halfway
to completion.

Halfway to hell.

No one's asking you to go.

Mr. Jeffords...

I could have you placed
under arrest for what you've
said here today.

Now, you go ahead.

Go ahead, Commander.
Because that's the only way
you're going to stop me.

You asked
to see me, sir?
Ah, yes, Wallace.

I need your help.

I want you to try and send
a priority radio signal.

Supposedly coming
from the E-boat.

So it sounds as if
it's under heavy attack.

Officers wounded,
boat in trouble.

I want Jerry to think
he knows why the boat
hasn't come back.

That way he might
be more sympathetic
when it does show up.

Yes, I think we can
do that, sir.

Ah, good, good.
As soon as you can.

These are the documents
from the boat.

Right. I'll let you
know how we get on.

Alison.

Those things I said
to you the other evening.

They were very unfair.

I realize that now.

I came to apologize.

Some of what
you said is true.

Now.

It's too late, Roger.

I envy men like Jeffords.

He's a man prepared to kill.

Prepared to die.

He enjoys this war,
I'm certain of it.

Perhaps he's just
a man who wants

To get it over with
as quickly as possible.

You...

You've been seeing him?

You sent me away, Roger.

Does he mean
anything to you?

I don't know.

Alison...

Don't let's blame each other.

Good night.

(DOOR CLOSING)

(SOBBING)

What the devil is going on?

Lt. Commander Jeffords'
orders, sir.

He wants the E-boat
to look nicely shot up.

And where is our
ingenious Jeffords?

Bottom of the harbor, sir.

Uh, Jeffords, I, um,

Understand you're
holding a briefing
for all COs at 1100.

That's right.

I trust my presence
won't disturb you.

JEFFORDS: The E-boat
will lead the approach
to Augusta.

All other boats will
maintain station
200 yards astern.

Now, we think
through radio deception

That we've prepared
the Germans for the idea
that one of their E-boats

Was heavily engaged
and damaged.

So we're hoping they'll
pass us through.

The E-boat's job
is to get the defensive
boom open,

And keep it open
long enough for the rest
of you to crash in.

How long do you
estimate the deception
will last?

Long enough. After that,
they'll have other things
on their minds.

Now, once inside the harbor,
the E-boat will head
to the submarine pens,

And drop the landing party
over the side.

While the flotilla creates
havoc in the anchorage?

Exactly.

At what point do the boat
captains make the decision
to withdraw?

Well, a red flare will
signal the landing party's
off the E-boat.

From that moment,
we'll need five minutes.

So we expect you
to create as much
havoc as possible.

Then get the hell out.

And what about
the shore party?

Well, the two CPOs
and myself know the risk.

We'll get out
the best way we can.

I repeat, gentlemen, once
the landing party is inside
the submarine pens,

Your part of this mission
is over.

Get in, do your job
and get out.

No waiting.
No turning back.

Is that understood?

All right.
Synchronize watches.

It is 1302...

Now.

One more thing.
I'll need someone to lead
the diversionary action.

Command the E-boat.

For once I have
the opportunity of
calling for a volunteer.

I'll take her, Jeffords.

All right, Commander.
Thank you.

All right, gentlemen,
that's all.

We slip this evening
at 1800.

And good luck.

Why the change of mind?

If you're about to destroy
my entire command,

I might as well
be there to see it.

I'm glad to have you
along, sir.

(WALTZ PLAYING)

(IN GERMAN)

(SPEAKING GERMAN)

We'll be sighting
Sicily soon.

I'd better get ready.
Good luck.

There's just one thing.
What's that?

If we all get killed,
don't say I told you so.

That's a promise.

Action stations.

Make it look good, Yacov.

All right.

(IN GERMAN)

Signal 275, 276.

Maintain distance,
200 yards.

Do not close up.
Repeat order.

Maintain distance, 200 yards.
Do not close up.

(IN GERMAN)

Are they still challenging?

Not now, sir.

They're falling for it.

Coming close
to the boom, sir.

They are
opening the boom.
It's working!

It's wide open.
Keep bearing in on them.

Open fire!

(IN GERMAN)

(EXPLOSIONS)

(ALARM BLARING)

Stand by torpedoes.

Steady...

Steady.

Fire one!

Fire two!

(IN GERMAN)

Stand by, landing party.

Bring her around.

Come on.

Get that bloody fire out!

(SCREAMING)

JOHNSON: Hard to port!

Mid ships, keep going, lads!
Hold that course!

Full ahead!
Emergency engines!
Full power!

Get the dinghy rigged
for a high-speed pick up.

Keep a sharp lookout
for swimmers.
Aye-aye, sir.

Stand by for
high-speed pick up.

Stand by for
high-speed pick up.

Did you make it?

We'll know in 30 seconds.

You waited.

All boats were to leave.

My decision.

Thanks.

What about
Barlow and Johnson?

Come on.

Never turn back.