Original subtitles

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 back door 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 will rely on its smallest

and swiftest vessel, 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 U.S. Merchant Marine

fights for the supply and 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 S.S. Lawton B. Evans and her brave crew aboard.

This is our story.

That's that German barge Irish warned us about.

We got bigger guns. Should we go in?

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

We can deliver 10 tons of K-ration,

lumber and cotton blankets to Palermo.

Let the warships take care of the war.

General quarters.

General quarters.

-Let's go! -[piping]

[alarm blares]

F-Lighter on target.

F-Lighter on target!

We're on target, on target.

Looks like he's going to fire the torpedoes.

Those F-Lighters are tough,

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

Okay, man, prepare the torpedoes.

Starboard torpedo!

Fire!

Portside torpedo!

Fire!

Come on.

Yes!

There she goes.

Direct hit! Direct hit!

Good work, men.

Direct hit, direct hit.

Got him! Took about time!

Did you see that, Tommy?

I saw it. Beautiful, beautiful!

Couldn't have done better myself.

Four marks.

They got eyes on us!

Shit.

It's a coastal battery!

Get the hell outta here! Flank speed ahead!

Flank speed ahead!

Hard right rudder, 10 degrees!

Hard right rudder, 10 degrees!

Avoid fire!

[phone ringing]

Redeker! Redeker!

-Full speed ahead! -Full speed ahead!

[shouting]

[gunfire, explosions]

All hands to battle stations! All hands to battle stations!

All under fire! We are under fire!

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

Get ready! Get loaded!

-I need to be-- -Load up! Load up!

They're sitting ducks out there, Skip!

Collective fire to the shore!

Repeat, collective fire to the shore!

Repeat, collective fire to the shore!

Fire on land! On land!

Flank speed ahead! Flank speed ahead!

Skip, that was the last of our escorts.

Damn it!

We gotta take out those guns!

It's no use, Skip.

I didn't start this fight, but I'm damn well gonna finish it.

Rapid continual fire at shoreline now!

Rapid continual fire on shoreline!

Repeat, rapid continuous fire to the shoreline!

Let's kick their asses! Come on! Come on!

[gunfire]

100 degrees to port!

[shouting]

Lined up.

Fire!

Reload! Reload!

[gunfire]

[explosions]

Recover! Reload!

Recover, recover, reload, reload!

[shouting]

Agh!

Go check the boilers for damage!

How is it?

Can't take another one of those, Skipper.

Charlie, go around for another pass.

-Hard left rudder. -Hard left rudder.

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

Get us the hell outta here, helmsman.

Aye, aye, sir.

Let's pick it up, boys!

Wanna finish this detail before Christmas!

I don't see you helping.

Ah, 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.

You got five minutes, let's pick it up!

Couple of dents that could use hammering.

Otherwise, she held up okay.

This isn't what I had in mind.

Redeker, I didn't sign up to get shot at.

Krauts ruin everything.

This isn't the Navy! We're Merchant Marines!

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

All those guardboys 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 Mill Valley?

Let's see. 1941?

Oh, I've been home since then.

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

You liar.

You 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 never getting these aces, kid.

Are you trying to make me feel better?

Not really.

Mission accomplished, chief.

Hey, I'm always here for you.

I'm like the ship therapist.

I'm gonna start charging you guys.

[explosions]

I heard things got a little hairy out there.

How's things on Lawton B. Evans?

Our last escort was destroyed and we barely escaped alive.

But the ship took the brunt of it.

We're leaking oil like a sieve

and we'll be vulnerable until we can repair it.

Sounds like it was hell.

I misjudged the situation, sir.

Oh, bullshit!

The Jerrys have that entire coastline armed to the teeth.

They been interrupting our movements

in that sector for weeks.

It's only a matter of time

'til you came upon 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 convoys, 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 gonna give you a shot at redemption.

Sir?

Landing troops on Salerno Beach in less than 48 hours.

The invasion of Europe?

Commander?

This is Major General Bradley.

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 SS88s,

the toughest gun in their army.

Yes, sir.

We're sending in two PT boats with commandos

to take out those guns.

We're gonna need your men to provide

artillery support as needed.

The Lawton B. Evans, General?

That's right.

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

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 gonna be the single most important mission

that you and your men on the S.S. 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!

Commander?

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.

Well, I guess we wouldn't want it any other way, would we?

Barnes out.

0600, we're outta here.

Italy.

Hey, hey.

All right, all right, all right.

Chorizo.

Orozco, could we have some eggs with Spam?

Mr. Ford! I been looking for you!

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.

You'll love it.

I don't care about protein. You know what I want.

Yeah, I know what you want.

I knew you'd come through!

What do I owe you?

Hey, just your friendship, homes...

Oh, and $10.

Deal.

Hey, Orozco.

When you gonna shave that moustache?

When Hitler shaves his.

[whistles]

Hey! Come get your eggs!

Come on, Moosie.

Before Snider does some more sit-ups?

Uh...

Would y'all quit it?

You're giving me performance anxiety.

[laughing]

Are you sure you wanna do that?

Yeah, why not?

Because.

Go ahead.

What?

Nothing.

Just tell me what I'm doing wrong.

Hey, you're gonna do it anyway.

No, I'm not. You're doing great.

Don't listen to me.

-You sure? -Promise.

You know, the funny thing about chess is

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

That's right.

You gotta save the piece with the most potential,

which in this case, is the queen

until you've exhausted all the other options.

Come on, Moose. This year.

Aw!

For crying out loud.

You know what? Put a shirt on!

You're already making me feel like crap!

I gotta stop betting on you, Moose.

Be the butt of the prank.

Come on, fishy, fishy. Come on.

Bauer!

You think you're gonna catch a German U-boat with this thing?

It'd make quite a trophy.

Ensign! I got Barnes calling for you!

Yeah, it would.

Commander?

Ensign Ford?

Yes, sir?

I have a very important and rather unique request.

I'd very much appreciate it that you'd keep it

between the two of us.

Of course, sir.

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

I don't understand, Commander.

I know Snow is a great fighter.

I've 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 frigging 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 off the shore of Salerno in 34 hours.

That gives you 12 hours until the invasion fleet arrives.

We cannot allow any diversions to get in the way

of landing on Italy.

Are we clear on this?

Understood. I will do my best, sir.

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 gonna interfere with us

taking out those 88s?

They're not gonna call the invasion just 'cause it's foggy.

Fancy a snort?

Only if you can figure out a way to get this bucket

to the Italian coast without it falling apart.

You know we're 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 admirals 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.

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 have done the same thing.

Excuse me, Mr. Snow?

Yeah?

I got a reading a mile east.

What do you figure?

It's pretty big. 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 and prepare the depth charges.

The moon's not gonna rise for a couple of hours.

The bastards will never see us coming.

Aye aye, Skip.

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.

How's she looking, Irish?

I think we got the drop on him, Lieutenant.

Should be 2:00, 800 yards out.

Say it! He shoulda 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?

It's called 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 could be so cavalier when it comes 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, Jeffries!! -Loading!

I confirm that U-boat. 2:00.

Shall we blast him with a five-inch?

Not yet. I want to get a little closer.

Is that really necessary?

If you want a confirmed hit, it is.

I wanna sink that bastard.

Yeah, but the closer we get to them,

the better chance the Germans gonna see us

and those U-boats have 88mm.

And I've had a taste of 'em

and I'm not really up for another one!

Or we can miss and end up with nothing.

We've got the best gunners in the Mediterranean.

They can hit an ice cream truck from this distance!

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

We're goin' in.

-Take her slow ahead. -Swell.

Aye, aye. Slow ahead.

300 yards, Skipper.

I need 12 degrees to starboard!

12 degrees to starboard!

200 yards, Skipper!

Five-inch, lock and load.

Five-inch, lock and load!

Grovener, I'm lined up and I'm ready to kill it!

Snow, we're locked and loaded!

On target!

Fire when ready.

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

-Fire at will! -Fire!

[gunfire]

[shouts]

Take cover!

Hard right rudder, full throttle!

Hard right rudder, full throttle!

Give 'em hell, boys!

[phone rings]

Hard right rudder, full throttle!

Hard right rudder, full throttle!

[gunfire]

Where'd it go?

I don't see it!

You see it, Grovener?

No, not from me! What about you, Jeffries?

-Nothing over here! -Who's got the binoculars?

Eyes on the horizon!

He's out of sight.

Yeah, give me those.

He is not getting away.

Prepare depth charges starboard.

Aye, aye. Prepare depth charges, starboard!

-Depth charge, Jeffries! -On it!

Get the lead out, Jeffries! Come on!

-Release depth charges! -Release depth charges!

Ah!

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,

a Liberty ship is not gonna do any good against a U-boat!

We've got more guns, we've got bigger guns.

Simple.

It's not gonna 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.

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 three knots submerged.

If we can't knock him out,

at least you can give him a wakeup call.

Drop depth charges!

Depth charges portside.

Depth charges portside!

Repeat! Depth charges portside!

Torpedo! Torpedo!

Torpedo! Portside!

[explosion]

Let's get some distance!

Flank speed, 10 degrees right!

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! Do you want me to hold your hand?

Yes, sir!

[gunfire]

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

Get closer. Await orders.

But sir...

[speaking German]

Incoming!

[shouting]

Incoming!

What'd I say about those deck guns, Bauer?

I'm getting my bearings.

Get your bearings faster!

[gunfire]

Oh, Christ! Jeffries is shot!

Come on, buddy!

We got you, kid! It's gonna be all right!

Come on, now you better breathe! You ain't got permission to die!

Come on, come on, come on.

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

That's it. That does it!

Who wants to sink a Kraut submarine?

I never thought you'd ask.

This ends right here and now!

Collective fire, continuous!

Collective fire, continuous! Repeat!

Collective fire at will continuous!

-On the right, on the right! -All right!

[screams]

I'm lined up and I'm ready to kill 'em!

-Fire at will! -Prepare to fire!

Firing!

Firing!

I got him!

Target down! Target down!

-Woo! -Yeah!

Good work, Bauer.

Yeah, we did it! We got 'em!

Yeah!

We did it!

Yeah! That's what I'm talking about!

Looks like Bauer got his U-boat after all.

Good work, men. Great work!

Skip?

What is it?

Jeffries is dead.

Damn it.

Donald Jeffries 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 enemy U-boats and destroyers.

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

No, Jeffries didn't volunteer for this kind of work.

But when 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 gonna 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 job

so we can all get outta this mess

and get back to our families where we belong.

[radio static]

Commander Barnes?

I understand that you ran into some action.

Yes, sir.

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

Jesus.

This is exactly what I did not want to happen.

It couldn't be avoided, 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 reached 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 mutiny

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.

[knocking]

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 gonna 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 and an entire crew killed

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

I'm not gonna make that mistake again.

They were killed because of your recklessness.

Jeffries was killed because you didn't listen to your crew.

We're in a war.

You told me yourself you cannot choose your battle.

You said that.

Well, I was mistaken.

Sometimes you can make a choice. And you made the wrong choice.

It could happen to any one of us.

So 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!

[gunfire]

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 gonna be manned by crack Nazi troops.

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

It's gonna 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.

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

No, they do not.

You're gonna 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.

[jazz music plays]

Come on. Act like you wanna win some money.

He doesn't wanna win. He's gonna lose.

Give it right here. Put it on the table.

Hey, how about not cheating this time?

Yeah, I heard about you.

You know exactly what you're doing.

Yeah, you're the guy with three aces.

I don't know why you're dealing.

-He had six aces at once. -Yeah.

I'll tell you what, boys.

With all this money I'm about to win,

I'm gonna get a tattoo of my girl.

Oh, yeah!

Romeo!

Hey, Bauer!

Your meatloaf special!

Grovener, you got that?

-Yeah, I got it. -Thanks, pal.

You gotta try this.

This is the best meatloaf in the world.

Well, I don't know what my mom would do if I got a tattoo.

You know what?

Every one you get will desensitize her.

I know mine did.

You're gonna love Cookie's special meatloaf.

Best meal of the month.

Oh, yeah.

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.

-Ooh! -Hey!

I gotta get back to the kitchen

and make another special meatloaf.

Take a little bite.

Yeah, yeah, the whole thing.

That's real good, huh?

What you think about that?

-You like it? -It's real tasty, isn't it?

What's wrong?

That's not hot. Keep going.

Owie, that's hot!

-Oh, yeah? -It's real hot!

Give me some water! Give me the water!

[laughing]

What are you doing? What are you doing?

What the hell, Cookie?

Want to make the meal a little less spicy next time?

[laughing]

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

Put a little hair on your nuts!

Hey, where you going?

So getting a hit in 56 straight games isn't a big deal?

It's a huge deal, but it's trivia.

Come on, when 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 centerfielder of all times.

But did he bat .400?

I hear 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 out of here.

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

Who wants to finish this?

Yeah, I'll take a bite. Leave it right here on the table.

All right, let's go.

Counterintelligence is now reporting increased

German naval activity off Salerno.

Looks like Hitler wants to hold onto Italy as long as he can.

Yeah.

And air 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.

Think they can handle a Kraut destroyer with five-inch guns?

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

If anyone can, it's him.

Better be right.

Hey! A roof! Now that's major home improvement!

That's what I've been trying to tell her.

Yeah.

Definitely something that 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.

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 do that.

Irish to the bridge, Irish to the bridge.

You better go!

Don't try to change the subject!

I'm coming right back!

Hey, you thinking about swimming to Italy?

I wasn't supposed to get into another firefight again.

That wasn't the plan, but here we are, pal.

Well, I been in one war and that's one too many.

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

Wow, I was so proud to be manning a four-incher

on a world-class destroyer.

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

So I heard, Cookie.

You know, after we got torpedoed,

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.

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 of the 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.

You know what? I'd better get back to the kitchen.

Okay.

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

Because, we're in Europe.

If we get over to Acapulco, I will get you some tequila.

Acapulco, here we come.

Keep an eye out for any vessels

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 something I tell people.

Whoa, whoa, you can't do that.

Why not?

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

But it makes sense.

That's where I want my piece to go, so I put it there.

Knights don't move like that.

Why not?

What do you mean, why not? Those are the rules.

But...

Ah, jeez.

Can a pawn do that?

Yeah, of course.

Well then, why not the horse guy?

We've been over this.

The knights do this L-shaped thing.

Aren't knights more valuable than pawns?

Yeah.

Then why can't they move like pawns?

I don't know. Just...

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

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

-Whoa, whoa... -Is that better?

-Yeah, that's... -Whoa.

Look at that.

What?

What's happening?

Noth--nothing.

-Did I just... -Seriously?

Did I win?

-You better tell him. -I won, didn't I?

[cheering]

Yeah!

One for Minnesota!

[shouting]

General quarters! General quarters!

All men, man your battle stations!

-I win! -It doesn't count.

General quarters! General quarters!

All men, man your battle stations!

General quarters!

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

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

Man your post, sailor!

[chuckles]

Get us lined up, Grovener.

Get you lined up. I'll get you lined up.

-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?

Well, let's pause a while

and see what that thing is and where it's headed.

Dead slow ahead.

Aye, aye, sir. Dead slow ahead.

I don't see nothing.

Bauer! General quarters!

I know, but, sir...

We're headlong into 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. You have no idea how much means to me!

Yeah. My God, I'd hate you to lose your fish.

Thank you, sir.

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.

Aw, 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!

Do you see anything, Grovener?

I don't see nothing, Tony.

That's what scares me.

I know we got a destroyer out there.

I just can't see it.

What's standard operating procedure for pea soup?

What I'm doing, moving as little as possible.

Any update on that ship?

It's close, sir, real close.

Well, lucky for us, Kraut radar's 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.

That's why they pay you the big bucks, sir.

I expected more than $150 a week.

See anything?

No.

I got nothing!

There's something on the radar.

You guys hear that?

Yeah, I still hear it.

It's getting closer.

Destroyer coming right at us! 30 degrees to port!

30 degrees to port!

It's coming right towards us.

-Hard right rudder! -Hard right rudder!

Prepare depth charges!

Full to starboard.

Fire at will, fire at will.

Full to starboard.

Depth charge starboard, now!

Depth charge starboard, now!

[gunfire]

-Fire! Fire! -Light 'em up, boys.

Fire! Come on!

-Bringing fire. -Firing!

Did we get 'em?

[gunfire]

We got men on the shore!

Krauts on the shore!

We found those guns you're looking for!

They're gonna tear us to shreds!

You think I don't know that?

[shouting]

-Take cover! -Take cover! Take cover!

We got shots coming from shore battery!

I want to see heavy fire directed to that beach.

Fire all guns!

[shouts]

Reload! Reload!

[shouting]

Firing!

Oh, my foot!

Move out!

Oh, I got it in the foot. Get off me! Get off me!

Don't you have a job to do?

Shut up, you moron! I'm trying--

Oh, my goddamned 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!

Come on, let's get you below deck.

Get you to see a medic.

Get up, you big lug!

Come on.

[shouting]

Sir, you gotta watch that portal!

You're gonna take a bullet!

My time will come when it comes.

They better be avoiding those U-boats!

They'd better!

[explosion]

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

[groans]

Redeker? Are you okay?

I'm all right! Call top-side.

Clevenger, were you hit?

A shell tore through the side!

Boiler one's down and boiler two is losing pressure fast!

Can you get 'em 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 nothing, all right?

Let's see how nothing it is.

-Oh, that hurts! -How does that feel?

-It hurts! -And there?

It still hurts.

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

Oh, God! What, are you trying to 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 wanna get sent back to Sicily, I'm fine!

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!

Ah, it works because you're a wuss!

-Come on, get back in the fight! -Here we go.

Chief! Chief!

No, no.

Hey, we got help coming.

We got help coming, so just hold on.

I don't think that's gonna be necessary.

What are you talking about?

Clev...

No, I just gotta hold pressure.

Would you just shut up, all right?

Clev, stop!

Clev, stop.

When you get back to San Fran,

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

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

I will, buddy.

You do that for me.

Yes. Okay.

You're the best friend I got, Clev.

No!

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

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!

What should we do?

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

Maybe we don't have to.

What?

Cease fire! Cease fire!

Cease fire? We'll 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, pinup girls and a bunch of our cargo.

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

Everything we throw overboard to make it look like we've sunk!

Come on! Get to work!

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 essential to the war effort,

I want it thrown into the briny deep, you understand?

What if it's a nice piece of jewelry?

-Toss it! -Even if it's real small?

No! 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?

Well, a small ring, on the other hand--

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 we still

get discovered by the Germans?

It's the law of averages, Moose.

Maybe they 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, nothing.

Just wondering if everything isn't pointless.

Wow!

We're on a junk detail

and you're getting existential on me?

[artillery fire]

Scheisse!

Let's get outta here!

Are we battened down?

If they can't fire it or wear it, sir,

it's headed towards shore.

Let's hope that satisfies our German friends.

Just unwarranted is all I'm saying.

Uh-huh.

All right, hand me the Philips.

That fishing pole,

it survived Casablanca, Algiers,

Tunisia, Messina...

Did you catch anything?

What?

You ever actually catch anything?

So what if I didn't?

Then the pole itself doesn't matter much, does it?

I mean, you might as well have used a baguette.

It's the principle, Irish.

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

Well, he's an officer, so it kind of is.

[radio static]

Oh, will you listen to that?

Oh, I'm a genius!

Woo!

For the boys working the pumps,

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.

No sign of the enemy.

I gotta hand it to you, sir.

I thought we were goners.

That idea of yours got us out of one heck of a pickle.

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

Captain, I have an update on the engine.

All right, give it to me straight, 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.

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.

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 our 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.

[clamoring]

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 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.

I 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 getting hit the way

they did and I've been sick about it ever since.

Everything we done all night

has been to get back at the Germans.

We're so close now, it'd be a crime to have to head back.

-Yes. -It ain't just Moose.

I've been feeling the same way.

Skip, we have Commander Barnes on the radio.

Dismissed, men!

-We can't just-- -This is too important to--

Do you mind?

Not everyone's a coward like Marca here!

You got some real nerve. You know that?

Well, you know what, Boston? Just shut your mouth.

Oh, come on, buddy boy!

Oh, yeah, what are you thinking?

I'll make that pretty face something else!

Hey, hey, hey!

[radio static]

Lieutenant Snow, we're calling off your mission.

Commander Barnes! Commander Barnes! Over!

Commander Barnes. Commander Barnes, over.

Come on...

Damn it! Hello?

Bill, are you there?

Commander Barnes?

[static]

Commander Barnes, over.

Snow?

Ford, fix this radio.

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!

God...

Snow, you need to get the hell outta there, right now.

You understand?

Lieutenant, can you hear me?

Lieutenant, you need to pull back immediately!

Do you read?

He better not blow that. You understand?

There's 10,000 lives at risk.

Yes, General.

Keep trying.

You better get these goddamn coms 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.

That last Luftwaffe 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.

[laughing]

Let's get outta here.

Our mission, gentlemen, is to take out two German 88mm guns

and the location is right here.

About 50 yards south is another German encampment

comprised of about 40 men.

Then to the north of that is an encampment

much smaller between five and 10 men.

If we reveal our position,

they have enough fire power to blow us sky high.

That's why we plan to land here,

keeping the Evans safe from harm.

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

Stealth is of the 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.

I have to admit I'd say that's the craziest plan

I've ever heard.

He's right.

Let's go win a war.

We want this short and sweet. Got it?

We're here to take out those 88s

and we only got 45 minutes to do it!

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

The last thing I wanna see is an 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's coming, all right?

Aye, Skip!

Let's go fight a war!

-Hey, Marca? -Sir?

Brew a pot of coffee. We're gonna need it when we get back.

Yes, sir, with cream.

Lower the boat!

We're about ashore now.

Are you sure they're still asleep?

They are, sailor.

Better stay frosty.

It's awfully quiet out there.

All right, guys, get ready to disembark.

Keep your head down, you stay low.

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

You're going to take the satchels.

Bauer and I are going to take the south.

We meet back here. Keep your head down low.

-Go! -Aye, Skip.

General, with our coms 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 beachhead as planned.

Barnes, I've gotta get 10,000 Allied forces

onto this beachhead! Do you understand that?

-Yes, sir. -Huh?

And you think I wanna gamble it with some cowboys

in a cargo ship who think they can pull off

some commando raid against an elite S.S. unit?

Is that what you think?

10,000 men at risk!

You think they can 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're not out of this, sir.

Get me General Donahue.

If 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.

[urinating]

[chuckling]

Grenade.

[gunfire]

What's the plan, Skip?

Prep your gun. We're moving in.

By the time we're in range of those 88s,

the dynamite will have blown them to kingdom come.

All men to general quarters!

All men to general quarters!

Say again, all men to general quarters!

[piping]

Is it set?

Let's move! Let's move!

[explosion]

That ought to 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 have gone off by now.

This ain't good.

The fuse must have got wet. I'm going back.

-Stay here. -No, Skip, it's too late!

[gunfire, shouting]

-I got ya, buddy. -I'm hit!

Come on!

Got eyes, Bauer?

I got you.

Sir, I got two Germans up on the ridge, 12:00.

Take one on the right. I take the one on the left.

On three.

One, two, three!

-I got him! -Nice shot.

Why is it so quiet?

Maybe they've fallen back.

Maybe we scared 'em off.

[airplane engine approaching]

Incoming Messerschmitts, sir!

Man the 50mm, Irish.

Me, sir? I'm an engineer!

Make those Nazis pay the price for

taking on 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.

Sounds like they got their giant ape.

Messerschmitts!

Get down.

It's coming back around!

All right, boys, might as well go out fighting.

Got enough ammo?

Enough for a couple minutes.

It ain't gonna last that long.

Ready?

Now!

Woo!

Light 'em up, fellas!

Leave no stone unturned or Nazi unshot!

[shouting, gunfire]

Fire at will!

Moose? I'm not gonna lose anymore guys.

Get Moose up! Let's get outta here!

Take him to the shore.

-Come on. -Come on, Buddy.

Come on. Come on, come on.

All right.

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

Remind me who won...

You two can't quit.

Didn't count, last time.

It's a rematch.

Prepare for that high elevation shot!

You got it! You got it!

-Loaded? -Loaded! Fire at will!

Woo!

Come on! We got Messerschmitts coming in hot!

Eat my shorts, Hitler!

-Locked and loaded? -Locked and loaded.

Fire at will!

That's what I'm talking about!

Holy cow! I got one!

Did you see that?

Paul, Jacob! Get in there, help him.

He's shot! Watch his leg!

General quarters!

Lt. Snow, there's still one 88 remaining!

Irish, lend a hand portside!

Let's go!

Welcome back.

Good job! Let's go!

Move! Move! You're all right?

I've been better.

Come on, come on.

-Drop that gun! -Orozco!

Are you ready to get back in the fight?

-Can I kill Nazis? -I hope so!

Where do I sign, sir?

Man the 20mm!

20mm? I'm about to kill some of them!

Let's go, let's go, let's go!

Give me something to shoot at!

Skip says to lay down fire at the coastline.

There we are.

[gunfire]

[splattering]

Man down! Man down!

Get the med kit.

Get some ammo! Reload! Reload! Reload!

Let's go, let's move!

Come on, come on, come on!

All right!

[groans]

Messerschmitts coming right for us!

Take cover!

That was too close for comfort.

Get up, you goldbrick.

Oh, Jesus.

No, no, no, no, no.

No!

Get back in your position, seaman!

We have to take out that last 88!

I'm sorry, sir.

My gunner trainer, Grovener, he's dead.

Can you please take the point of position?

Copy that, seaman.

Time for some revenge killing.

I got you, sir.

[shouting]

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!

Oh!

Yes, yes!

[shouting]

We got 'em!

Way to go, Cap, way to go!

Oh, yeah!

That was one in a million, Captain!

You happy now, asshole?

Thank you so much, sir.

Grovener would have loved that.

Grovener.

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

Not bad for a cargo ship.

You're a hell of a shot, Skip.

The way we're listing, we're not gonna last 20 minutes.

Well then, let's make it count.

[gunfire]

Pleasure to serving with you, Mr. Ford.

Pleasure's all mine, sir.

Messerschmitt coming in!

[shouts]

[shouts]

Nice shot, Irish.

-Thank you, sir. -You ought to be a gunner.

[shouts]

Flight coming in! Whoa, whoa, whoa!

Ah!

I got shot in the ass!

Ah!

Medic! Bring some morphine!

Medic! Medic...

I got you.

-Morphine. -Stay calm, stay calm.

I'm always calm!

I'll put pressure on the wound.

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 gonna shit again?

Not with this butt.

Oh, I had such a pretty butt too.

Looks like hamburger now.

Chorizo! Say chorizo, cabrón.

Okay, chorizo.

It hurts!

Coming back!

Good luck!

Where'd that come from?

Wait! What's that?

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

Woo! Yeah!

[cheering]

USA, baby!

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.

Snow, 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 gonna beat the Japanese.

Yes, sir.

Do you think you could command a heavy cruiser in the Pacific?

Sir...

We'll be in touch, Lieutenant.

We're doing okay.

They're calling the invasion "Operation Avalanche."

I like that.

The doc says they're gonna be sending you home, Moose.

What do you think?

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

I don't like it any more than you do.

"The U.S. Fifth Army, working in coordination with the British,

who landed a division in Taranto."

Throw in the fact that Italy surrendered,

and this is big, very, very big.

Ow.

All right, Moose, see you in the funny papers!

Aye, aye, you betcha!

Hey, Cookie, wait!

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

You know me too well, Irish!

Hey, Bauer, Ford wants to see you in the wardroom.

What does that jerk want?

Ask him yourself.

Marca said you--

You ever heard of knocking, sailor?

Sorry, sir.

[knocking]

Come in.

Marca said you wanted to see me, sir?

Bauer, Bauer.

Oh, yeah. Run those charts up to the skipper

on the bridge for me, would you?

Seriously?

Yes, seriously.

It's all yours, Bauer.

Yes, sir! It's...

It's beautiful!

I knew you were gonna 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.

Hey, shut the door!

Sorry, sir. Thank you again, sir.

Oh, my God.

[crying]

I'm gonna miss your philosophy lessons, Ken.

I got a little something for you

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

She all battened down?

She's not sinking anymore.

Small victories.

How you holding up?

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

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

One of the best.

Yeah.

Right or wrong, when you're captain of the ship,

you have to make decisions

where men's lives hang in the balance.

It just has to be that way.

That was no accident those thunderbolts

had their way with the Germans.

The enemy had those 88s, that wouldn't have happened.

That was your doing, Skip.

Suppose it was.

You think these actions are gonna 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?

I'd be honored.

Let's get this thing up and running.

Yes, sir.