Original subtitles

[ Thunderclap ]

It's getting worse. I'm turning back. No, not yet.

It's not worth the risk. We can't find out anything in a-- in a storm like this.

The navy won't take that for an answer.

[ Chuckles ] Then they're gonna have to.

[ Thunder Rumbles ]

Admiral, every ship we've lost in this area reported a storm like this, then vanished.

I have to find out how and why.

Yeah, well, we can't find out if we're lost too.

W-We can't take any more of this. We're heading back to Seaview.

We're not going back!

Another move like that, and you'll wind up in the brig.

Admiral, four of our largest ships have been lost without a trace!

Now we have to find the answer!

- There. - What?

Look, there.

- [ Thunder Rumbles ] - Admiral, what is that?

I don't know. But whatever it is, we--

[ Engine Whirring ]

Hang on. We're gonna crash.

[ Man ] Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.

Starring Richard Basehart,

David Hedison.

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.

[ Sighs ] You all right?

Yeah, I guess so.

What happened? [ Chuckles ]

Well, If I can believe my eyes,

we were, uh, shot down by an ancient square-rigger.

That is impossible. The storm must have knocked us--

The storm-- There's no sign of it.

[ Switches Clicking ] It sure left its mark.

The controls don't respond. We're dead in the water.

[ Sighs ] Flying Sub to Seaview. Flying Sub to Seaview.

Seaview, this is Nelson Do you read me?

Nothing. Can you make repairs?

If it's not too serious.

But in any case, we're gonna do a little exploring first.

That island? Why?

It might hold the answer to the missing ships.

Maybe even our, um, square-rigger.

Admiral, we didn't see any square-rigger.

That was... an hallucination, optical illusion.

Well, whatever it was, we're still going ashore.

Give me a hand with this life raft, will you?

Any word from the admiral? None.

Well, keep trying.

Sparks keeps calling. He just can't raise the flying sub.

What could've happened to him?

What happened to those four navy ships that are missing?

Well, no sign of any installation here that could've sunk those ships.

Let's look around. Mm-hmm.

[ Birds Squawking ]

Admiral, look here.

It's a cave.

Look here, sir.

It's like some kind of writing. What is that? Uh, German?

No, sir. That's Dutch! You're sure?

With a name like Van Wyck? Yes, sir. I'm sure.

[ Chuckles ] Well, can you make it out?

Yes, sir. Roughly translated, it reads,

"Cursed be those who venture through this portal."

Well, that's interesting. Let's find out if it's true.

[ Thud ]

Sort of an antique booby trap. Mmm.

Thanks, thanks. Could've killed me.

Well, it looks like this place was inhabited once.

But, uh, he didn't sink those ships.

Certainly not with that dagger.

[ Thunderclaps ]

[ Male Voice ] A curse upon your head. A curse now and forever.

[ Rumbling ]

It's a cave-in! Let's get outta here!

You all right?

Of course I'm all right. Why shouldn't I be?

After what we've just been through, you can ask that?

A simple little rockfall while we were investigating the cave.

That's nothing to be alarmed about.

Wait-Wait-Wait-- Wait a minute.

What about, uh-- What about the curse? The voice we heard?

And, uh, that square-rigger that shot us down?

Well, Admiral, I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about.

[ Sighs ] You're not going to try to deny that this happened to us?

Well, I think-- Well, let's just say...

you seem to have a very active imagination.

Mmm. Hmm. Now, what about this? Is that imagination too?

No, that's real enough. Probably some old pirate weapon dropped here centuries ago.

Let me take a look at it. Uh, I-I think not.

Obviously one of us is losing contact with reality.

And if it's you, I'd prefer to keep the weapon, thank you.

[ Chuckles ] Anything you say, Admiral.

Now, let's get back to the flying sub.

Where's that dispatch from Washington?

Here you are, sir.

FS-1 from Seaview. FS-1 from Seaview. Come in, please. Over.

Anything? No, we just can't raise 'em. Now, look at this.

Washington just radioed that they want a full report on those missing ships.

On top of that, the whole 11th Fleet is moving right here in this area on maneuvers.

Isn't that a little risky, sir?

Moving the fleet in without knowing what's making our ships disappear?

Sure it's risky. But that's Washington's decision to make, not ours.

The admiral's nearly an hour overdue.

You don't think he could've run into anything, do you?

I don't know what he's run into. What about Seaview?

- What about it? - Our course is set for the same area. Do we change it?

No. Continue on course at flank speed.

[ Clicks Tongue ] What do you think?

What is there to think?

Control to Engineering. [ Man On Speaker ] Aye, sir.

Proceed on present course. All ahead flank! All ahead flank. Aye, sir.

Well, let's get the repairs made and get back to Seaview as soon--

What repairs, Admiral? Everything seems to be in working order.

Uh-huh.

Uh, Nelson to Seaview.

Nelson to Seaview. Do you read me? Come in, please.

This is Nelson. Seaview, come in.

Admiral, we've been trying to make contact with you. Is everything all right?

Well, we, um-- we did have some trouble with the storm...

but everything's all right now.

Wh-What storm are you talking about, Admiral?

Well-- [ Scoffs ]

Look, you must have felt it. Your instrumentation must have picked it up.

No, it didn't. We've had nothing but clear weather here.

Oh? [ Sighs ]

Well, I guess it must've been some local squall that hit us.

But as I said, we're all right now.

And we'll be heading back. Good.

Did you find out anything about those missing ships? Washington's getting nervous.

Nothing, unless it has something to do with the island.

Island? Admiral, uh, there's no island out there.

Well, of course there is! We were just on it.

None on the charts.

Uh, we don't show one, Admiral,

but, uh, if you were on it, I guess it's there.

Uh, is it important?

I-I don't know yet.

We'll talk it over when I get back aboard. Over and out.

Well, shall we be getting back, Admiral?

Uh-huh.

All right. Let's get up to the control room.

[ Crane ] Admiral. Do you hear me?

No. No. Go away. Go away. Leave me alone.

[ Sighs ]

Admiral, don't you know who I am?

Lee, you know, for a moment I thought that--

[ Sighs ] Y-You thought what?

Sick bay!

Y-You came aboard, and you passed out. We brought you down here.

Well, I'm all right. I'm not sick.

Take it easy, just, uh--

When I tell you I'm all right, I'm all right! Let him, Skipper.

Still feeling a little weak, sir?

Not weak, exactly, Doc. Just a little bit tired.

That's hardly surprising.

Characteristic syndrome of a very severe emotional trauma.

Mm-hmm.

What about Van Wyck? Surprisingly enough, he's okay.

Mm-hmm. Mmm. Well, where is he?

He's in his cabin. He should be asleep by now.

Did he say anything about the control room? Anything unusual or different?

No, why should he? There's nothing wrong.

No, no, of course not. There's nothing wrong.

[ Sighs ] Where in the world did you get that?

Oh, I-I found it on the, um-- on the island.

Then there was an island. And what was that about the curse?

Who said anything about a curse?

Well, you did in your delirium.

And you-you told me about the island from the flying sub.

Oh? But there was no island on the chart.

That's what I told you.

Uh-huh. And Seaview didn't go through any storm.

No. Admiral, what's wrong with you, anyway?

I've got to see Van Wyck.

Admiral, look, um--

I don't know what's happened to you, or what's gone wrong,

but whatever it is, please tell me.

Later, I've got to think some things through first.

Did you-- Did you get any word from Washington?

Washington? Yes, the whole 11th Fleet is moving into this area.

They'll want to know if you found anything about those missing ships.

Oh, if they ask again, tell 'em to-to-- No. No.

Tell 'em I'll get in touch. Aye, sir.

[ Sighs ]

[ Cracking ]

Commander Van Wyck?

What are you-- That wiring, sir-- This is a restricted area.

Nobody's allowed to touch that.

Wait! Hey! Wait!

May I have that dagger, if you don't mind?

How did you get in here? How does anyone enter a cabin?

You were too absorbed in the dagger to hear me.

I rather doubt that. I checked your cabin. It was empty.

I think you've been here all the time.

May I have the weapon, please?

Why?

Admiral, I'm aboard Seaview to investigate the mysterious disappearance...

of four units of the 11th Fleet.

That dagger could be an important clue. I need it.

[ Laughs ]

Are you asking me to believe there's a connection between an 18th century dagger...

and the disappearance of four capital ships?

I have reason to believe so. Yes.

I have reason to believe that you're lying. Now, why?

Admiral, you haven't forgotten the curse in the cave, have you?

Well, the-the curse was nonsense.

- And the Flying Dutchman? - The Flying Dutchman.

Well, surely you know the legend.

An ancient square-rigger lost in time.

A ghost ship, sailing aimlessly and endlessly the seven seas.

What has that got to do with--

Admiral, the Flying Dutchman was cursed. Just as we're cursed, all of us.

You, me, Seaview, the four ships that were lost.

- You don't really believe that. - Why not? You believe it.

No! No, it's absurd, illogical.

Ah, but true, Admiral. There is a curse on us.

But I know how to break it. Let me have that dagger.

This dagger is going right into this safe.

Admiral, I warn you.

The entire 11th Fleet can be destroyed if that curse isn't broken!

- [ Knocking ] - Come in.

[ Sharkey ] I can't, sir. It's locked. Oh.

Excuse me, Admiral. I'd like a word with you.

Ah, what is it? Commander Van Wyck. I'm worried about him.

-In what way? -Sir, I found him fooling around with our control systems.

When I asked him a few questions, he clobbered me and ran.

Mmm. Did you tell the captain? Yes, sir. He's ordered a search for him.

Well, that's not necessary. He's right here.

Where, sir? Right here. We were just--

We were just--

[ Male Voice ] They who reach the Flying Dutchman never, never reach the shore.

They who see the Flying Dutchman never reach the shore.

Flying Dutchman.

Have a look around.

Fire in the admiral's cabin. Fire detail on the double!

[ On Speaker ] Aye, sir. [ Alarm Rings ]

Over here!

Grab his arm! Come on!

Come on. Get in here!

[ Fire Extinguishers Spraying ]

[ Coughing ]

Come on. I'll get you down to see the doc.

No, no. I'll be all right in a minute. You sure?

Yeah, positive. Have your men found Van Wyck yet?

No, but they will. Get going. He can't get far.

Lee, how much do you know about the Flying Dutchman?

I'm taking you to sick bay. No, no, no. I'm going to the control room.

What's the weather topside? Heavy seas running before a gale, sir.

And there's no storm predicted.

No, sir. But the weather around the cape is always tricky.

Mm-hmm. The Flying Dutchman always seems to appear in heavy weather.

Um--

Take us up to periscope depth. I want to look around.

Admiral, I think you should get to sick bay. Periscope depth!

- [ Sighs ] You heard the admiral, Chip. - Aye, aye, sir.

[ Morton ] Ten degree up bubble. Level off at 90 feet.

Ninety feet and level, sir. Up scope.

Prepare aft torpedo tubes for firing.

Sir, are you sure you want to give that order?

You heard me, Chip. Aft torpedo tubes ready for immediate firing.

Belay that. We're not firing anything, Admiral, except on my specific orders.

Then take a look through there, and give those orders!

Unless you want us to disappear like the navy ships!

I don't think there's much sense in firing torpedoes at an empty sea, do you?

Empty sea.

She's out there. The Flying Dutchman.

I tell you, Lee, unless you fire, she'll destroy us. Take another look.

There's nothing out there, Admiral. Nothing!

Down scope.

What's the matter with you? Are you blind?

She's sailing there like a curse of death! Send the torpedoes after her!

[ Pinging ] Kowalski, what are you picking up?

Nothing, sir. Is there any ship at all in the immediate vicinity?

- No, sir, absolutely nothing. - Kowalski, check again.

The board's clear, sir.

"They who see the Flying Dutchman never, never reach the shore."

[ Scoffs ]

What's wrong with him, Lee? What did he see?

I don't know. There was nothing on the surface. Absolutely nothing.

[ Male Voice ] Admiral Nelson.

Mmm? Hmm?

Who's there? [ Male Voice ] Surrender the dagger you stole.

Surrender the dagger.

Surrender the dagger or suffer the curse of the Flying Dutchman.

Where are you?

There's still no sign of Van Wyck. I can't understand it.

He can't get off the ship. We'll find him.

We'd better. I don't like the idea of him running around loose.

Mr. Morton, take a look at this.

We're right back where we started! Mm-hmm.

We've been sailing in a great circle all night. So I see.

Did you know about this? Not-- Not until just now, sir.

Chip, get the navigations officer.

I want all instruments checked out on the double.

Chief, give him a hand. Aye, aye, sir.

Admiral, did you know about this? I know. We're off course.

What do you mean? How did you know we were off course?

I have been trying to convince you that we're up against forces beyond our control.

I'm going to send out a distress call.

A distress call? Why? We're in good order and proceeding under our own power!

Proceeding where? We're no closer to port than we were last night.

We won't be any closer tomorrow! How do we know?

We can find the trouble and fix it, can't we? Not this trouble.

Look, there have been four ships lost in this area. I don't intend for us to be the fifth.

Sparks, send out a general distress call. Aye, aye, sir.

Sparks, belay that.

You can't stop me from making this call.

I am stopping you. You're in no condition to make any decisions...

because of some delusion about a Flying Dutchman.

Oh, and you're determined to protect me from myself. Is that it?

- Yes, sir, that's it. - Mm-hmm.

[ Kowalski ] Skipper!

I'm picking up a ship on the surface, sir.

Bearing 0-1-5 relative. Range 2,000 yards and closing.

The Flying Dutchman.

- Now do you believe me? - It's a freighter, not a Flying Dutchman.

Oh, just-- just a freighter, huh?

Just a freighter.

All right. I want to talk to the captain.

- Why? - I want to talk to him.

Sparks, there's a ship within 2,000 yards of us.

Contact her in the clear. Ask to speak to her captain.

Aye, sir. Why are you doing this?

Oh, I don't know.

Perhaps I want to find out if we can still contact the outside world.

Lee, we can't find a malfunction in any of our instruments.

Navigation officer's still working on it. Very well. Take the conn.

Aye, aye. I'll see what luck Sparks is having.

Mm-hmm.

[ Man ] Admiral--

Van Wyck.

Why don't you face facts, Admiral?

It's impossible to contact that ship up there...

or any other ship, anywhere.

Who are you? And what are you?

I think you know. Just as you know you're doomed.

You'll never contact the outside world again.

I just don't understand it, Skipper. Can't you contact them?

Well, my transmitter's working. I double-checked it.

But there's no reply. There might as well be nobody up there.

All right. Secure the call. Aye, sir.

We can't raise them.

Oh? And how does Sparks explain that? He can't.

All right, surface. I want to try a visual signal.

Admiral, the seas are running pretty high.

We can still try. Surface.

Chip, take us up.

Surface? In that storm? Take us up.

- [ Morton ] Prepare to surface. - Stand by to blow ballast.

[ Explosion ]

Engineering, what's wrong down there?

Engineering, what's the trouble down there?

This is the captain. Engineering, report!

Maybe the freighter rammed us. She wasn't close enough.

Lee, you better have another look.

I tell you she wasn't-- Up.

Dive! All dive! All--

Freighter, huh?

I think we better talk it over in your cabin!

[ Alarm Rings ]

And all this has something to do with the cave on that island you discovered. Am I right?

You still don't believe me, do you?

The explanation's simple enough.

It's-- There must have been some kind of volcanic gas on the island...

that produced hallucinations.

You said you saw the Flying Dutchman fire at us.

Were you hallucinating then? Is this an hallucination?

No, it's real. But what does it prove? What does it mean?

It has something to do with the curse.

I think that Van Wyck would like to kill me with this dagger.

Let me look at that, will you? Sure.

I've a book here that gives a detailed account of the legend of the Flying Dutchman.

It all started when a Dutch ship the Amsterdammer failed to return after a lengthy voyage.

Oh, here it is.

And, according to the legend, the ship and the crew were somehow cursed...

fated to sail the seas forever unless the curse could somehow be broken.

In that case, the Amsterdammer would sink,

and its doomed crew would turn into skeletons.

So you see-- [ Grunts ]

Skipper! No!

[ Grunts ]

[ Groans ]

Leave him alone.

I didn't-- I didn't mean it.

I couldn't stop my arm.

That dagger. It's-- It's got a life of its own.

Yeah, I know.

Well, according to navigation, we're sailing this course.

Right along the circumference.

Our controls are still frozen. We just keep sailing in an endless circle.

Mm-hmm. And inside the circle--

Let's see. At this point, here...

here and here, four capital ships were lost.

And right here in the center is where we discovered that island.

I know there has to be a connection, but I don't see it.

No, I'm not certain I do either, but I'm going to have a crack at something.

How long will it take you to get the bell ready for a deep dive?

Oh, about 15 minutes, sir. Mmm, I'll settle for 10.

[ Chuckles ] Aye, sir.

Come on, Ski. Let's go.

What are you going to do? What am I gonna do?

I'm going hunting... for a Flying Dutchman.

All right, Scotty. Finish her up.

Everything okay with the cable? I've got 2,000 feet of it on the drum.

That enough? Oh, plenty.

Then we're all set. Okay.

Are you ready to lower the bell, Chief? Aye, sir.

I don't like this, Admiral. Do you have to go alone?

Oh, I'll be all right, Lee.

[ Door Slams ]

We're ready to lower away, sir. Very well. Go ahead.

Okay, Ski.

You're paying out cable too fast, Kowalski. Slow it down.

Aye, sir.

Slower, not faster!

I'm doing it. Nothing seems to happen!

Here. Let me take that.

It's too fast. What's the matter with them?

Cut the power, quick.

I can't, sir. Something's jammed!

If that cable runs out, we'll lose him. Cut the power.

We've lost him, sir.

Slow the descent. Seaview?

Seaview, do you read me?

We read you, Admiral. Something went wrong with the controls. We slipped the cable.

[ Sighs ] You mean, you can't haul me back up?

-Not until we pick up the cable. -[ Chuckles ] That's gonna take some doing.

Stand by. I'm gonna hit bottom.

[ Groans ]

- Lee, you still read me? - Yes, what happened?

I-- I'm on the bottom. But the impact smashed my reserve air tank.

Air-- How much do you have left?

About-- About 20 minutes. No longer.

Well, uh, you're too deep for divers.

We can bring the Seaview down and try for the cable.

It's our only chance.

Wait a minute. I've got a better idea. It might save time.

[ Electrical Zapping ]

Admiral, come in!

Come in, Admiral, we're listening!

[ Sighs ]

I might've known you'd be here.

Of course. You don't think I'd let you make such a perilous trip alone, do you?

That won't do you any good, you know.

Ah, maybe you're right.

I feel sorry for you, Nelson.

But I have to do this. Why?

You don't know the real story of the Flying Dutchman.

Probably no one else does, either.

Save it. We're running out of air.

You see, when the Amsterdammer reached this part of the world,

the crew demanded the captain set a course for home.

Well, he refused. So, they mutinied.

They brought the captain to this island and the first mate killed him.

But, with his dying breath, he put a curse on them...

saying they'd never again reach port.

- And you were the first mate. - I am the first mate.

Oh. [ Sighs ]

What's the matter, Chip? I ordered a deep dive, and we're still at 90 feet.

Something's gone wrong with the induction valve.

We can't fill the ballast tanks. That's impossible!

Excuse us, sir. It was impossible to run out 2,000 feet of cable,

but we did it just the same.

I wonder what the admiral was trying to say before we got cut off.

Maybe something about how we could recover the cable.

It had to be that, Chief, but how?

It can't be a diving party, not at that depth.

Say, Chip, that gear we put in the flying sub,

is it ready to launch?

We gave her a routine check during the last watch. She's ready.

Well-- Chief, come with me. Aye, aye, sir.

You can't hold out much longer, Nelson.

You'll be ready soon to take my place. Take your place?

Once you die by that dagger, then I'll be free.

Then it'll be you who'll roam the seven seas...

till you find somebody to take your place as I found you.

So that's it.

Give me the dagger. It's of no use to you now.

You'll make a worthy replacement.

Your plan to come down here was actually a sound one. Look.

The Flying Dutchman. I knew she had to be down here.

There's no other place she could've come from.

[ Explosion ]

And you thought the weaponry aboard this bell would be able to destroy her, huh?

There's only one way to end this. Give me the dagger.

[ Breathing Heavily ]

I can wait, Nelson. Your time has nearly run out.

No.

S-Seaview will get to me in time.

Hardly.

I've arranged it so that she can neither surface nor dive.

Just sail in that constant circle till the end of time.

You... sank four ships in-in these waters.

Surely-- Surely there must have been one man aboard...

who would have served your purpose.

Unfortunately, they all died before I could get one of them to my island.

You see, only the man who removed the dagger, as you did,

and received the dutchman's curse could relieve me of it.

[ Breathing Shallowly ]

Just a few seconds more, Nelson,

and you and the Seaview will be the new Flying Dutchman.

Do they work? Like a charm.

Find me that cable, and I'll pick it up in five seconds.

There it is.

Can you reach it from here?

I think so.

- Got it! - Good work. Hang on. We're going up.

Good enough. Take her up, Ski.

Thanks.

He needs oxygen... bad. Take him to sick bay, Ski.

No. No, no, no.

That-- That island has to be destroyed.

You know the coordinates. Set the firing mechanism.

Where's Van Wyck? Wasn't he-- Van Wyck, sir?

Oh, no. No, of course he wouldn't be.

[ Breathing Heavily ] [ Toggles Clicking ]

What about Van Wyck? If I told you, you wouldn't believe me.

Missile ready for firing. All right. Fire.

[ Van Wyck's Voice ] Captain,

touch that button and you're dead.

Move away from that panel.

I mean what I say, Captain. Move!

Fire!

Don't move. Not a muscle.

Van Wyck, the Flying Dutchman-- The legend come to life.

Or did we imagine it all?

Well, we didn't imagine this.

And navy records still show four ships lost without a trace. There's one thing we know.

The 11th Fleet won't have to worry about losing any more warships.

What kind of report are you gonna file with Washington? [ Chuckles ]

You know, Lee, that is a very good question.

I only wish I knew the answer.

[ Chuckles ]