Original subtitles

- Synced and corrected by chamallow - - www.addic7ed.com -

You ever thought about the Himalayas?

As a matter of fact, I have.

The previously closed mountain kingdom of Nepal

is opening her borders.

- You played beautifully, this evening. - Thank you.

Ugh.

What's wrong, George?

I think my bloody foot's frozen.

It's not the mountain that you conquer, George, but yourself.

If you're not scared out of your wits by something,

then you're not paying attention.

Gentlemen, I've got a letter from Shipton. He's leading a...

Reconnaissance to Everest. We know. What does he want?

Any two of our climbers are welcome to join them.

Oh my God. Ed. Ed, look.

Ed, my boy, this is what we came for.

This is the key to the citadel of Everest.

Three years in Sydney?

Will you write to me?

Do you promise?

I promise.

I need your help.

Hillary?

Yes.

If Everest is to be climbed this time,

he needs to be there... or thereabouts.

So everyone keeps telling me.

Dear Ed, Col Hunt informs me you're refusing to go to Everest

because of the way I was treated.

You need to get over that. I have.

This is Great Britain's last chance to climb Everest.

It's your last chance as well. I strongly urge you to go.

Hello? Ah, yep. I'll just get her for you. Louise? Phone for you.

Hello? Hello, darling.

- Hi, Mum. - Your father and I were just wondering

how things are going.

I'm good. I'm having fun.

You, um, met any nice young men yet?

Mum.

Come on, darling. Well, there must be some lovely young men there.

Well, you must be having a wonderful time.

Mum, I'm gonna have to call you back.

OK, love you.

Guess what, Whizz? By the time you get this,

you'll be pleased to hear George and I will have arrived in Kathmandu.

I should be excited, but half the time

my mind keeps drifting back to you.

Do you think it's silly of me, Whizz?

- Anyone special? - My parents.

Oh gosh. We're hopeless.

You know, when I make love to a woman,

it's gonna be for the second time. I'm tired of waiting for the first.

Hey, is Jim Rose's daughter spoken for?

- I'm not sure. Why? - Why?

Utterly gorgeous, never been kissed.

Yeah, maybe I should write to her.

- Do you have an address? - Not offhand, no.

Yeah, I'm definitely looking her up when I get back.

She has many attractive features.

God. Ed, you make her sound like this bus.

Thank you.

Hope the buggers realise that we haven't come all this way

just to eat our lunch.

Neither have they, George. That's the problem.

Ooh, here comes top brass. Squad, shun.

I've been looking forward to meeting you chaps for a long time.

You know Charles, of course. Tom Bourdillon.

Charles. Tom, how are you?

Charles has kindly agreed to be my deputy on this expedition.

I'm hoping you'll agree to be part of the leadership team too, Ed.

- I would be honoured. - Excellent. Well, come along.

Ah. Tenzing.

Meet Edmund Hillary, George Lowe from New Zealand.

Namaste. Namaste.

- Namaste. - Namaste. Nice to meet you, Tenzing.

Congratulations on your mighty effort with Lambert last year.

Tuche. Tuche. Thank you.

Well, gentlemen. The sun is over the yardarm.

I'd say a stiff gin was in order, wouldn't you?

- Coming, Tenzing? - No. Tenzing Sherwa.

Stay with Sherwa tonight.

Pasang? Pasang. Min. Tuche.

Pasang. Pasang. Min. Min, no.

Pasang!

Namaste. You must be Tenzing.

- Ralph Izzard, Daily Mail. - Namaste.

Now, I don't suppose you've signed a confidentiality clause

with the Times of London, did you?

Tenzing no read, no write.

Splendid.

So, what's this, then?

Min, Min, Min!

Morning, chaps.

What's going on, Tom?

What the...?

Croquet's off, John.

Thank you.

Ooh.

He's steaming mad.

Steaming mad!

This story is all over the cover of the Daily Mail,

and we simply cannot have it.

Now, no more of your... protests.

We are a team...

and teams must work together.

If you have any more complaints,

raise them with Capt Wylie, sahib here.

Thank you, gentlemen.

- How many trips to Everest is this for you? - Oh. Seven.

You're a tiger for punishment.

Seven, lucky number.

This time, top getting.

Lambert giving scarf.

Tenzing promise Lambert...

taking top.

Well, you can't break a promise.

Very natural.

Tell us what's in the letter.

Sorry. It's great.

He's talking about this amazing Sherpa called Tenzing,

- who apparently is just an incredible climber. - Oh really?

- It's really good. - How amazing!

When do you think you'll see him again?

I don't know. Um, a while, I think.

- Aw. Boys and their hills. - I don't know.

I love this song.

Shh, Ed.

Uh, John would like a quick chat with you.

You're in trouble too, George, not just me.

Well?

John's asked me to lead an advance team

and set up a base camp at the foot

of the Khumbu Icefall.

Oh great. Great, yeah.

He's assigned Westmacott and Band to assist.

I've asked for you to be included.

And?

Well, he wasn't too keen.

To tell you the truth, I think he wants to split us up.

But I'll tell him you'll cry and wet the bed if you're left behind.

Yeah, that's right, I would.

I told him I need your ice craft.

And he reluctantly agreed.

You beauty!

Thanks, Ed.

Oh, you had me going with that one.

You're not gonna regret this, Ed. I might.

Get a wriggle on, George!

Haven't got all day!

Jesus, Ed.

I've driven George pretty hard this week, Whizz.

Probably been downright unpleasant at times.

Hunt is coming up tomorrow.

Hope he's suitably impressed with our ice steps.

I really hope to be at the sharp end when Everest is climbed,

but you never know.

John Hunt may have other plans,

and I suspect they don't include George and me.

Dear Ed, John Hunt chose you because he believes in you.

And I believe in you.

You just need to believe in yourself.

- Oh God. What is that? - They're raisins.

- I add them in for bulk. - Thanks. I'm not sure that's...

I'd like you all to meet James.

He's covering our expedition for the Times.

Hello.

Ed. Nice to meet you. Good to have an extra pair of hands around.

Tomorrow we'll be sending a team

to establish a route up the Khumbu Icefall

on to the Western Khum.

Ed and I are starters on that one.

Yeah. We'll give it a crack.

Can't get enough of that ice.

Well, I thought I might try my hand.

I'm rather good on the ice, myself.

Anyone got a match?

All right, boys. Morning.

As we discussed, George, you rope up with me today.

We're going to reconnoitre the next camp.

You two have a rest.

Well, Tenzing and I can scoot up later on, if you like.

Oh, no. I don't want you busting a boiler. Come on.

What do you say we give those bastards a couple of hours' head start,

then we'll go up after them?

Hillary sahib. Three lungs.

Tenzing, tiger of the snows.

I'm sorry, chaps.

I'm pooped.

I can't go one step further.

It's all right, John. We all are. We all are. We'll camp here.

- I do apologise. - No worries, John. Here is good.

- Bugger me, it's Ed. - Can't be.

No, that's him.

I'd recognise that ridiculous hat anywhere.

Good God.

- George. - Thank you.

What's it like on a road with a... a fearless leader?

It's nice, actually, thank you, Ed.

Better than being on a bloody road with you.

Tenzing. We might scoot back down to base camp.

You sure there's enough light for that?

We take off now, we should be OK.

Aargh!

Tenziiiing!

Ugh!

- Hillary! - Argh!

Hillary!

Tenzing!

Have you got me, Tenzing?

Wait, wait. OK.

OK. Good anchor!

- I'm gonna start climbing! - OK, OK!

Aargh!

OK, Hillary?

Tuche, Tenzing. You saved my life.

OK. OK.

There's a lot of tension at base camp today.

Hunt has to choose which pair are going to get to the top first.

Bourdillon, Evans...

Hillary, Tenzing...

Lowe, Westmacott, all great climbers...

but only two have the chance to get there.

Gentlemen.

Inevitably, some of you are going to be disappointed

by what I am about to announce.

I know all of you want to reach the summit, but only one pair can.

So...

the job of getting 17 loads up to the South Col...

Noyce and Wylie.

The job of forcing a route up the Lhotse Face...

Lowe, Westmacott...

Band.

Second assault team:

Hillary and Tenzing.

First assault team:

Bourdillon and Evans.

Well done, Tom.

Their primary task will be to map a path up to the South Summit.

However, if time and conditions allow,

they will push on for the summit itself.

Myself and Gregory, with the help of high-altitude Sherpas...

will be in support of both the first and second assault teams.

You're not putting yourself in one of those high-altitude teams?

- Yes, I am, Michael. - I have to advise you,

you are making a terrible mistake.

You're exhausted. You are risking the lives of others.

There is a long and proud tradition in the British army,

I know, Michael, of leading from behind.

However, it is not a doctrine to which I have ever adhered.

Well, I think a cup of tea would be in order at this juncture.

It's been weeks of hard slog, Whizz.

Hundreds of trips...

up and down the mountain...

hauling gear, oxygen.

We've had storms, Sherpa strikes...

you name it.

John agreed to let me and Tenzing lead the load carry to the South Col.

My God, it's a desolate place.

It's hard to breathe.

It takes an age to do anything...

impossible to get warm.

But at least now Bourdillon and Evans

can launch the final push to the summit.

- Best of British, John. - Thank you, George. Thank you.

Ed.

We'll give it our best shot, Ed.

I know you will. Good luck.

Right. Let's go.

Let's make history, huh?

This is as far as I go, chaps.

If you don't mind, we'll leave the oxygen here.

Not all of it, John. You'll need some of it for your descent.

No, no, we'll be fine. You can.

Go for the top.

All right, John?

Best of British, gentlemen. We'll see you back at the South Col.

There they are. Ed, there they are!

Christ, they're motoring.

You know, if they get to the South Summit in the next hour,

they're gonna go for the top.

- You reckon? - Wouldn't you?

I'll never forget this exceeding kindness, Tenzing.

John.

They're up, John. Another 300ft, and they're gonna be on top.

By Jove, this will make the most marvellous gift for our new queen.

It's not right, not right.

Sherwa should be first top getting Chomolungma.

Ugh, come on. Christ.

They're gonna be out of oxygen soon.

Hey!

Get the oxygen!

Come on, George!

- I got it. - Quickly!

Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on.

Ed, you got Charles?

Tom? Tom. We've got you.

How did you get on?

No.

You got to the South Summit. That's higher than man's ever been before.

We got so close.

We got so...

The summit ridge is... it's so steep and heavily corniced.

I'm sorry, Ed. You...

You haven't a chance.

Tom and Charles had a bad night.

They must go down today. You'll escort them, George. Here, Tom.

- John, with all due respect... - with all due respect,

I think you should be the one that heads down.

I have to support the second assault team, George.

You're not in any state to support anything.

I'll be of assistance in case of any emergency.

No, I need to be the one that stays here.

You need to be the one that heads back down.

- George, I'm all right. - John, you're burnt out. You're exhausted.

George, it is my role to be the leader of this expedition.

Listen to me. The only role...

the only role that you'll play in any emergency

is be the bloody cause!

You're right, George. I'm being selfish. I do apologise.

I'll take them down.

Tenzing calls the wind "the roar of a thousand tigers."

He believes Chomolungma is angry with us. He might be right.

This is the worst night I've ever experienced on the mountain.

Any moment, the wind could fling us to our deaths.

If it ever subsides, George will lead us to the next camp.

From there, Tenzing and I will head for the summit.

And who knows?

By the time this reaches you, I'll have either conquered Everest

or it will have conquered me.

- Hear that, George? - Mm-hm.

No wind.

Perfect weather for a stroll.

Might have to put my shorts on!

Just a few of us left, now, Whizz...

George, Tenzing, myself and a couple of Sherpas,

coming to the last stop before the summit.

I've had lots of ideas for some time now about us, Whizz.

And my main job will be to try and persuade you

to agree to some of them.

I wonder what my chances are.

You better head down. We'll run out of light soon.

S'pose it's too late to consider a three-man team?

Sorry, George. We don't have enough oxygen.

You sure?

I've done the sums.

You take it easy, yeah?

Good luck, mate. Thanks for everything, George.

Thank you.

Argh, no! No!

My boots are frozen.

I can't wear these.

I'm not gonna lose my toes, like Lambert.

It's taking too long. We're losing valuable time.

Hillary, plenty time having.

Tenzing, would you mind leading for a bit?

My boots are still a bit stiff.

As you wish.

What do you reckon?

Good, good. Chomolungma happy.

We might be buggered!

Seeing as we're here, push on? What do you think?

Yes. OK.

Good, Hillary!

Good. Good!

I'm nearly there, Whizz.

Every step is agony.

The higher I go...

the less colours I see.

It just seems endless.

Just when I think it can't be much further...

another cornice rises over me.

My lungs are burning.

My feet are like lead.

You said once...

would I turn back if I was two steps from the top?

Well, now I am two steps from the top.

I'm there.

And there's no turning back.

Look.

Ang, give me the cup.

So...

how did it go?

Well, George...

we knocked the bastard off.

Thought you probably must have.

Oh, Ed. I knew you would! I knew it.

Tenzing, come here.

Oh, I knew it.

Would you like some tea?

You know what, George? I'd love some.

It's cold.

- Summit's about the size of a tabletop. - Really?

Yeah.

It's perfectly smooth, rounded at the edges.

You can stand on it quite easily.

Views are incredible.

Took all these photos, north, south, east, west,

just to prove we actually made it there.

Wow.

I had my oxygen mask off.

And when I put it back on, it's just...

like all the colour came back to the world...

like it had just been draining away.

I got you these.

There's a little band of rock and shingle just below the summit.

Thanks, Ed.

You could have done it easy, George.

We could have done it together, no sweat.

We did it. We all did it.

- Synced and corrected by chamallow - - www.addic7ed.com -