Original subtitles

When we locked this file back in 1945, I hoped we'd never have to open it again.

Can't we just keep it closed and Mark it "rest in peace"?

Not while naval scientists are trying to prove...

That porpoises have brain structures rivaling man's.

Tests are proving these sea creatures are so intelligent and possess...

Such amazing faculties that they seem almost human.

Even superhuman.

And they think that he might be teaching them?

- That's right, lieutenant. - But, admiral...

Do you think we'll be able to find him after all these years?

That's our assignment, to find him.

And if what they think is so, to try to get him to coordinate his work with our scientists.

"September, 1941." That's when it first started.

Yeah, that's when it started.

I never knew him, you know, until after...

- Is that a good likeness? - Perfect.

Yes. At least that's the way he looked before...

Well, you know...

How he was when...

In September '41 before...

Taken by one of our divers.

Is there any doubt in your mind?

No, that's him.

Just when I almost managed to forget...

It all comes back like... like a nightmare.

- Skipper! - We have no choice, lieutenant.

Orders from the very top. They're recalling him to active duty.

And we must stay with it until we complete our mission:

To find...

Henry limpet.

George: I don't know. Henry always lived in a world of his own.

I remember way back when he was working as a bookkeeper in Brooklyn.

There you are, Mr. Limpet.

Thank you. Thank you, miss Barnes.

I know what it is to be without your glasses.

Well, did you have your physical this morning?

I suppose we'll be losing you to the Navy soon, then?

- I'm afraid not. - Really?

No, my eyesight. And a few other things. I'm classified 4-f.

Everybody can't be a hero, Mr. Limpet. We need men like you at home too.

- —Why? - Well... to give to the blood bank, of course.

Well, they don't want my blood either.

- There's always your job here at the office. - Miss Barnes, my job here isn't that important.

They could hire almost anybody to replace me.

I'm sure your wife will be happy to know you'll never be called.

Well, I hope so. But bessie's very patriotic.

And very healthy. They may take her. Ha, ha.

- Henry limpet. - Bessie: Henry? Henry.

- Hello, bessie. - Henry, George is here...

- George stickle? - Yes. Now, Henry...

- He's back on Liberty? - Yes, he is.

- That's nice. - Don't interrupt me. You go to the draft board?

- Yes, I did, bessie. They rejected me. - Rejected? Again?

Let's not say too much about this in front of George, all right?

Now, Henry, you come right straight home from work.

Don't hang around that pet shop for hours.

Don't be upset, miss Barnes.

There's a fish in the water cooler.

Henry: I know. It's mine.

Hi, there.

Hi, hen, old boy! Ha!

- George. Good to see you, George. - Good to see you, little buddy.

Don't you look important? That uniform and all those doodads on your sleeve.

- Just a couple of hash marks. - Don't apologize, George.

For your information, Henry, I am now a machinist's mate 2nd class.

Machinist's mate 2nd class. You look first-class to me, George. Ha-ha-ha.

What kind of a machine are you mated to?

That's a little bit of humor.

Hey, Bess! Time to take over. Lover-boy's here.

- Hello, dear. - Hello, Henry.

Control yourself, Henry. We have a guest.

- I'm sorry, George. - A little sticky, Casanova, but I'll forgive you.

Henry, isn't it wonderful?

George has Liberty the whole weekend, and he wants to spend it with us.

Whole weekend? Oh, well, that's great.

Well, little buddy, I hear you missed the boat, huh?

The boat? No, I missed the subway train, but I...

No, no, hanky pal, down at the draft board.

Washed out completely, I hear.

Oh, that. Well, you can't win them all, George.

Bessie!

Yes, George. What is it?

What say we clear the decks for action, go dancing?

- Feel like shaking a leg, Henry? - Oh, no thanks, George.

I can't. I have this faulty equilibrium due to poor vision.

Henry, how many times must I tell you, you do not rumba with your eyes!

Now, don't worry. We'll think of something exciting.

Say, listen, I have an idea.

Why don't we go to the university tomorrow for professor hoffmeyer's lecture?

- Lecture? - Yeah, on decapods of the genera pagurus.

You know, George, he's gonna talk about the mating habits of the shellfish. Ha, ha.

It's a little risqué. Sort of for adults only, you know.

Uh, I'll just pass on that action. I've got a weak heart.

I've got it! Why don't we run out to coney island tomorrow morning? How about that?

- Well, I don't know... - Henry!

You do not have to eat clam chowder just because it's coney island! We'll go!

I hate to miss that lecture, but I do like the water.

Water and fish.

If you paid half as much attention to me as those fish, I'd be the happiest wife in flatbush.

It's just that fish are so bright and cheerful. And so beautiful.

Look at him. Always drawing into his shell, going off into his fish world!

Say, Henry, old boy, if you just stand there staring down...

At that cup of sardines, you're liable to go off your nut.

George...

George, come here.

Have you given much thought to the devonian period?

- The what? - The devonian period of the paleozoic era.

You know, it followed the silurian and preceded the carboniferous eras.

- I try not to think of things like that, Henry. - Well, I've given it a lot of thought, George.

A lot of thought.

Do you realize that our ancestors were fish?

Maybe your ancestors, Henry, not mine.

Henry, maybe you ought to try to find a new hobby. Maybe go in for parakeets.

- George, I'm not joking. I can explain. - He sure can, George.

He's read hundreds of scientific books on the subject.

He claims millions of years ago there was nothing but fish in the world.

That's right. And then, you see, some of those ancient creatures became amphibians...

And they crawled out on land. Then millions of years later they became men.

- I know some who ought to crawl right back. - But doesn't it give you a thrill of hope?

Hope for what, Henry?

Well, with the war in Europe and new weapons being invented all the time...

What if men were actually foolish enough to destroy themselves completely?

Then the fish in the ocean would develop into a new race of men...

And this time they might turn out better.

How would you like a cocktail, George?

Fine, fine.

Excuse me, Henry.

I wish I were a fish.

Fish have a better life than people.

Bessie: Henry! The water! Oh!

What a mess!

- Just look... just look at my rug! - I've got it stopped now, bessie.

Henry, you are floating yourself right out of your happy home with this crazy hobby!

I'm gonna run down to the pet store and get a new regulator for the intake hose.

And be sure to take all of this junk with you! The fish, tank, bowl, the whole works!

- You mean get rid of them? - You bet I do. Everything. Everything out!

- But, bessie! - Henry limpet, either those fish go or I do!

Well, which is it to be?

I keep remembering how hurt they looked when I left them.

- Who looked hurt? - My fish. When I left them at the pet shop.

For heaven's sake, Henry, forget that.

We're out to enjoy ourselves. For once.

Say, bessie, did I tell you about my last stretch of patrol duty near Bermuda?

You wrote us all about that.

Oh. I probably left out the most exciting details.

See, I don't like to brag, but, I tell you, when we put out to sea that one morning...

- It was at night, wasn't it? - Right. Yeah, right. Good memory, Henry.

We went out to sea that night with me in the engine room...

I thought you were on the bridge with the admiral?

Now, Henry, was it you or George who made that voyage?

I'm sorry, George.

There are just a lot of things you don't mention in the open, Henry.

We're not in the war. Why can't you tell us about your destroyer?

- The USS Elias j. Starbright, isn't it? - Shh!

Keep it down about my ship, will you?

There are things you don't understand, Henry, not being in the service.

- I tried. - I can tell you this, though.

There are so many Nazi submarines below the surface you could walk to Europe on them.

The ocean's jumping with u-boats ready to go in case uncle Sam gets in the fight.

I don't want to start a panic, Henry, so you keep all this under your hat, right?

Right, bessie?

Hen, old boy, did I ever tell you about the Caribbean?

Man, what a Liberty we had in a port near Trinidad!

- Did you ever do the rumba, Henry? - Huh? No, I have faulty equilibrium.

Yes, sir! Join the Navy and have a whirl.

Barbados, Kingston, the Virgin Islands.

Ah. Lunch is almost ready.

It must be wonderful down there in your world.

Come along, Henry!

Henry: I don't wanna wait a million years to go back again.

More than anything, I wish I could be one of you right now.

I wish...

I wish I were a fish.

Henry! George, Henry can't swim. Save him!

Oh, what will we do?

Save him!

Get some help! Call the lifeguard! Get the police!

Police! Lifeguard! Help!

You all right, son?

Officer: Come on. All right, move out. It's all over. It's all over.

Sorry, bessie. I'll try again.

He doesn't even know how to swim.

Heh. And bessie thought I couldn't swim.

Bessie: He doesn't know how to swim. He doesn't know how to...

Officer: Keep clear here!

Officer: Let me help you, son.

Bessie! What's gonna happen to poor bessie?

Bessie: George. George.

- Didn't you see any sign of him at all? - Afraid he's gone, bessie.

Guess he must have lost his glasses during the fall.

- I saw a fish wearing them. - Fish?

- Oh, no. Oh, George! - George: Now, now, now.

There, bessie, we'd better get going home now.

There we go. There we go.

Officer: All right, folks, back up, please. Let us through. Keep it clear, please.

Bessie: Oh, no.

Henry: And I thought it all would be so beautiful.

Wish I were home with bessie.

What am I gonna do now?

Bessie won't like it at all.

I've never stayed out all night before.

Maybe I should have listened to bessie.

I got this back from the pet shop.

It didn't seem right leaving it, with Henry...

I mean, well, he was so crazy about it.

Don't you think it would make a nice planter?

Oh, sure. Sure. And you could fix it up with dried seaweed and stuff.

- Make sort of a memorial for old hen. - George, that's sweet.

- And I think he would appreciate that. - Ah, here's the notice:

"Henry limpet, a bookkeeper, residing at 1313 pleasant Avenue, flatbush, yesterday...

Fell orjumped from a pier at coney island. The body was not recovered.

Limpet is survived by his widow, bessie limpet."

Bessie: Poor Henry.

Hi!

Gee, I must be nearing Florida. Parrotfish live in southern waters.

Hi! I'm Henry limpet. I'm... i'm...

Fish: Hmph!

Ugh!

Crusty: Jumping St. elmo's fire! Who in blue blazes invited you in here?

Huh? Who...?

- What is it? - Slamming into my private quarters.

Come about and stand by for action, you four-eyed flounder!

Say, you're talking to me.

You bet your binnacle I'm talking to you, Matey!

Now, hoist your tail and get!

Why, you're a splendid specimen of a pagurus pollicaris.

In common terminology, you're a crustacean, a hermit crab.

- I'm glad to meet you, crusty. - Crusty! That does it!

Put up your fins! I'm gonna swab the ocean floor with you.

Hey! Take it easy. I don't wanna fight!

Let that be a lesson to you, you confounded, four-eyed...

Say, what are you, anyway?

You related to the porpoise family, maybe?

No, I'm a limpet. Henry limpet from Brooklyn. You know, flatbush.

I've seen flat fish, but I've never seen no four-eyed flat bush.

Well, you see, I...

Well, I'm not really a fish, I'm a man.

Or I was a man until quite recently.

Listen, flatbush, anything I hate, it's a smart-aleck fish.

I didn't mean to barge in on you, but a shark was chasing me.

Shark! Jumping jellyfish!

Just swing about and let that shark chase you full speed away from here!

Oh!

Golly! Did that come out of me?

Hurricane! Typhoon! Stand by for a blow!

Henry: There's no hurricane.

It was just me.

Just you? You mean to say that blast came out of you?

Why, you loudmouth son of a bellerin' barracuda!

That belch of yours liked to capsize me in the backwash.

If you sound off like that again, I swear...

I'll batten your gills and lower the boom on you.

And furthermore...

Crusty?

Crusty? You all right, crusty?

Gotta hand it to you, flatbush...

That whale-busting noise of yours is really something.

I guess that long-legged blob of shrimp bait'll think twice before he fools with us again.

Well, guess I'll be off.

Off? Where you going?

I'd like to see if I can locate others of my kind.

Well, then I figure I'd better go along to keep you out of trouble.

Hey, great! Climb aboard, crusty.

And I got a feeling I'm gonna be busier than a one-armed octopus with hives.

All right, flatbush, let her rip.

Henry: Look! A freighter!

Crusty: Hey, let's not get too close to the critter.

Don't worry, it's not alive.

Not alive? Suffering swordfish!

What kind of sea monster you reckon killed a whopper like that?

Henry: A torpedo did it.

Crusty: A torpedi?

Full speed away before that blasted torpedi comes back.

Oh, they won't attack us, they're just after ships.

Hey, don't go moseying around in this thing's innards.

No wonder this thing died! Look at the kind of stuff it ate.

Here's the captain's logbook.

Hey, listen to what it says.

This ship was carrying important cargo for the allies.

Listen to what it says? I didn't hear it say anything, flatbush.

There must be a way to stop the Nazi submarines.

If only I could help.

Quit mumbling to yourself, flatbush. Come on, let's shove off.

This must be the captain's cabin.

Crusty, there's another fish in here! A vicious-looking brute!

Ugliest critter I've ever seen. Gangway, get me out of here!

It's only a mirror. It's me.

That's what I look like.

Well, swab my scuppers. Another flatbush.

I'm not a bad-looking fish at that.

Really, a pretty unique specimen. Heh.

You've got some good points, but beauty ain't one of them.

Look at that strong Gill structure.

Did you ever see such a fine dorsal formation?

But maybe I'm a freak!

Am I gonna be like this for just a little while or always?

I'm probably the only one of my kind.

Oh, if only there was another fish like me, even just one.

Someone who would understand me.

- Listen. Don't you hear that sound? - What sound?

I better go up topside and have a look.

Henry: How awful!

Did you see that? They're trained to save each other!

Henry: Are you all right?

Oh, yes. Thank you.

Oh, well, gosh...

That was nothing at all. I mean, nothing.

Oh, yes, it was. It was very nice of you.

- And very clever. - Heh.

It was just a simple thing, really. I mean, anyone could have done it.

Well, I think you're wonderful.

Well, uh...

Say, does that mean that you...

- Like me? - Oh, yes, I like you very...

- Very much. - Is that right? Heh.

Well, golly, I mean... heh.

- What's your name? - Name?

- I don't know what you mean. - What people...

- I mean, what fish call you by. - I've never heard of such a thing.

Well, let's see.

I'll call you "ladyfish."

Do you like that?

Yeah, ladyfish!

By the way, my name is limpet. Henry...

Oh. Oh. Heh.

Limpet.

- All right, limpet, shall we go? - Go? Go where?

Why, to the spawning grounds. After what you did for me, I...

Now, wait! You don't know what you're saying.

Oh, but I do.

All I can say is:

Mush and bilge water! Huh.

Well? Do you like it?

Bessie, you're a knockout!

You know what that dress reminds me of? The first time I saw you. Remember?

Your pop brought me for dinner.

Oh, George, imagine your remembering, after all these years.

Thank you. That was even before Henry...

Limpet, what is that on your nose?

On my nose?

Oh, oh. Ha, ha.

Those are my eyeglasses. Heh.

- You see, I have a little astigmatism. - Tigma-tism.

Astigmatisms must be very nice.

They make you look so distinguished.

Well, they help me to see a long way off. Heh.

Do you see that barracuda coming at us?

Oh, limpet, limpet, we'll be killed!

Henry: Just watch this.

Oh!

You're very wonderful.

Shall we go?

Ladyfish.

You see, you don't understand.

See, I have to tell you that...

Well, I'm married.

Married? What is that?

Well, I have a wife.

Oh. Is that like astigmatism?

Oh, no. I mean I already have another lady fish.

Oh, that! Shall we go?

- You mean it doesn't make a difference to you? - Well, I don't see why it should.

Well, it's just not done.

Say, do you run off to those spawning grounds...

With every Tom, dick and, and fish that comes along?

Oh, no. You see, up until now I've been too young.

Yes, yes, of course. I understand.

Now shall we go?

Now, look, ladyfish, I...

I'd sure like... I mean... Well, that is to say...

Do you suppose that we could just be...

Well, more or less, friends?

Fiends?

Wouldn't that be, more or less, nothing, limpet?

Good bye.

Good bye.

But... I mean, it wouldn't be proper.

Gosh, I can't.

But, ladyfish! I didn't mean it!

Ladyfish!

Ladyfish!

Oh, ladyfish!

Oh, ladyfish!

It's no use. I've searched everywhere.

Man: Sunday, December 7, 1941.

All across the nation, people were stunned as they Rose to hear the news this morning...

Of the unprovoked and dastardly attack that has led to a state of war.

The rest is a mere formality.

Sources say that the president will ask congress tomorrow...

Our country at war?

Technically...

I'm not 4-f anymore.

I know, I'll go back to Brooklyn, I'll find George stickle and I'll...

I'll do something!

What's all this blabberdash about war and 4-f and stickle, and like that?

Look, flatbush, if you're in trouble, boy, you can count on me.

If you'd stay here and act as my lookout for ladyfish, I'd sure be grateful.

Not me, I'm going with you!

Oh, please, it's important, crusty.

Tell her I love her and I'll be back as soon as I can.

Well, all right. If you don't need me.

Oh, I need you more than ever, old fella.

But I need you to look after her while I'm gone.

Flatbush, take it easy, huh?

I will, crusty.

So long, flatbush!

They're missing the u-boat!

Ahoy there!

Ship ahoy!

Ahoy! Ship ahoy!

- Who's out there? - Henry: A friend.

Ahoy there!

Ship ahoy!

Don't be alarmed. Please don't!

Sailor 1: Are you on a raft?

Henry: No, I'm swimming. I'm a fish!

Good lord, a comedian!

Henry: Ahoy there!

- What are you doing off the bridge? - We've got an unidentified contact, sir.

Why didn't you identify it? There's a war going on!

Give the recognition signal!

Henry: I can't! Harlock: Give the recognition signal!

Henry: I'm Henry limpet. I fell in the ocean and was drowned.

Only I wasn't drowned, exactly.

Hit him with the light. —hit him with the light!

Harlock: Give the recognition signal!

- Commence firing to starboard. - Sailor 1: Commence firing to starboard!

Sailor 2: Activate sonar dome.

Henry: Uh-oh.

Must be the ship's undennater listening device.

Now hear this!

Henry: This is Henry limpet speaking.

This is Henry limpet.

You missed the sub.

All engines ahead full. Left standard rudder.

The old man should hear this. Pipe it to the bridge!

Henry: All engines ahead full. Left standard rudder.

All engines ahead full, left standard rudder?

Sailor 3: All engines ahead full, sir.

Henry: The enemy's hiding on the bottom. 400 yards...

Straight ahead. Set your charges for 200 feet.

Oil slick on the starboard beam, sir. A direct hit.

Keep scanning. Could be a Nazi trick.

Henry: Cut that light! I'm the friend who guided you to the u-boat.

If you're friendly, give the recognition signal!

Henry: How can I convince you...

I'm just a plain American trying to serve my country?

Give the recognition signal at once or we'll commence firing depth charges.

Henry: Now, look!

You were trying to locate a submarine, weren't you?

You couldn't find it, could you?

And I told you where it was, didn't I?

And then you got it, didn't you?

We cannot see you! How are you staying afloat?

Henry: I'd rather not say at the moment...

You wouldn't believe me.

What the blasted blazes is this?

Henry: If you wanna know who I am...

And what I can do for you, bring George stickle...

Machinist mate 2nd class, out here and you'll learn the answer.

What do you make of it?

Probably a Nazi trick, just as you said, sir.

You want to meet with somebody called pickle?

Henry: Not pickle! Stickle!

Machinist mate 2nd class George stickle!

On the USS Elias j. Starbright!

Well, I'll do what I can. I'll send a full report of this meeting in...

But I can't guarantee pickle.

Stickle!

Henry: Good.

I'll be at this same spot three days from now.

Left full rudder, all engines ahead full.

Wait till this hits the Navy departments.

Harlock, you've either been drinking or you're suffering from severe combat fatigue!

Believe me, admiral, this strange voice just seemed to come up right out of the water.

We haven't time for nonsense. We've got a war on our hands.

- That's just it, admiral. - What's just it?

The voice... whatever it is. It seems to be most efficient.

It led us to a Nazi sub and directed our charges accurately.

All right, harlock. All right.

Let's say you heard this voice. And it did what you say it did.

What's your explanation for this strange phenomenon?

I don't know, sir. I only know that it's friendly and cooperative.

It wants to work with us.

Blast it, harlock! We can't enlist a voice!

Why not? If it directed our depth charges accurately.

Because I'm not going down on record as that admiral who was packed quietly away...

Because he believed in strange voices coming from the ocean.

Why not delegate the responsibility to someone else?

There's nobody else crazy enough to take it, except yourself.

Oh, not me. No me, admiral, I... Ha, ha, ha, ha!

I was thinking about machinist mate 2nd class George pickle... stickle.

Who in thunder is he?

The voice asked us to bring this stickle out for a rendezvous with him.

Or it.

I think we can arrange a little leave for you immediately. Take a good long rest.

Think what this could mean to us. It could spot submarines all over the Atlantic.

Within a year we could break the back of the Nazi u-boat threat.

All right, harlock. We'll arrange for stickle to meet with this voice.

But until we learn the true nature of this device, it will remain top-secret.

- No further discussion of it beyond this room. - Certainly, admiral.

Except between stickle and yourself, of course.

You're to shoulder complete responsibility for this, uh... secret weapon.

Commander, you've got to believe me! I know nothing of this.

I'm just a machinist mate 2nd class attached to the...

I know all about you, pickle. Uh, stickle.

I hunted through half the Navy to find you.

- Yes, sir, but may I ask...? - You may not! I'll ask.

Stickle...

You have been summoned here by a voice from the sea.

- I have, sir? - Yes.

The voice claims to be a friend of yours. Who do you know that might be down there?

I don't know anyone down there, sir. Maybe a buddy on a submarine.

The voice did not come from a submarine.

So help me, sir, you've got to believe me. I don't know anything about this!

When the voice hails us, you'll engage it in conversation until we get a fix on it.

And destroy it if necessary. Do you understand?

Yes, sir. Yes, sir.

Henry: Ahoy there!

Ahoy out there!

Are you the one that hailed us three days ago?

Henry: I am!

- Henry: Did you bring George stickle? - He's here.

Say something, quick.

-Talk, sailor. —uh, uh...

Uh... ahoy... ahoy there! Um...

This is George.

Ge... George stickle.

Henry: Hi, George. This is Henry limpet.

George! Did you hear me? This is Henry!

How are you, George?

Come on, sailor! For heaven's sake, get a grip on yourself! Keep him occupied.

Hello, Henry. It's good to hear you. Heh, heh.

- It's impossible. Henry limpet is dead. - Just keep him talking.

We've got four other ships closing in on him.

This... this is a real surprise, Henry. Real.

Everybody thinks you're dead. Ha, ha, ha!

Henry: I'm not, George. I'm just...

Well, a little different.

- Sure sounds like Henry's voice. - Sir?

Radar can't detect anything. Sonar says there's no engine vibrations.

But they do have a hydrophone fix on the voice.

- Hit him with light. - Henry: I've got to talk to you, George.

It's awful urgent!

George! George, why don't you answer me?

Turn that light off or I'll go away right now!

Secure that light!

Henry: That's better. Now, listen to me, George.

Have them put you in a little boat all alone, and come out here to meet me.

Break out a rubber life raft.

Ru... rub... rubber...?

No. Oh, no!

You can't make me...

You're the key to this mystery, stickle. You have to go.

Don't worry, we'll give you a strong flashlight. Put him in the boat.

No, no. No.

Henry.

Henry.

He... Henry.

He... Henry, it's me. George stickle.

Henry: I'm right here, George.

Where? Where? I, I don't see you.

- Henry: Don't turn that flashlight on. - No, no, no. Certainly not, Henry.

Henry: You don't know how glad I am to see you, George.

Look, if you're really Henry, what are you doing out here in the ocean?

Henry: Remember when you jumped in the water after me at coney island?

Yeah, I sure do.

Henry: Didn't you see a fish? A rather strange fish?

Well, no. No, I don't think...

Hey, wait, wait. Wait. I did!

And I thought it was wearing glasses, just like yours...

Only I was so upset, it was just my imagination.

Henry: No, George, that was me.

You? You, a fish! Oh...

Yeah. If you were a fish, you certainly would need to wear your glasses, Henry.

If you'll pardon me now, Henry, I gotta get going.

Henry: All right, I suppose you'll have to see to believe.

You can turn the light on me.

Now do you believe me, George?

Excuse me a minute. Gotta go down for air. You know how it is, a fish out of water.

No, no, no.

Oh, it's... it's... it's impossible.

Remember how you used to come over to our apartment on Friday nights?

You and bessie would sit up till all hours playing poker while I read myself to sleep?

That's right. Regular as clockwork, every Friday night.

How about the time the three of us went to the Bronx zoo? Remember?

I got separated from you and bessie. I had to walk home. Bessie had my cash.

Ha, ha, ha, ha. Yes. Oh, yes, I'll never forget that.

Hey, wait a minute.

Only Henry limpet would know all that.

Henry!

- You are Henry! - Yes, George.

Is there...? Is there anything I can do for you, Henry?

Well, I wanted to talk to you about my helping the Navy.

- You, in the Navy? - Yeah, I want to help.

I can be a big help in spotting Nazi subs or guiding destroyers to them.

Maybe scouting around as an underseas patrol, or dozens of things.

S... s... sure, Henry. I see where you'd be quite a help to the Navy.

Speak to the Navy right away.

Go right to the top level. I don't want to waste time on red tape.

And I want to know about bessie. Is she all right?

Bessie?

Bessie. She's still in a state of shock about your being drowned.

You can tell her now I wasn't drowned.

Gosh, Henry, you certainly do sound different.

- You really have changed. - You don't know the half of it.

There's nothing like realizing your importance to the world to make a man out of you.

Even if that man is a fish. Let me know the minute there's word from the Navy.

Yes, I'll certainly do the best I can, Henry.

If we ever need you, we'll just use the oscillator gear.

- You think you can hear it? - I'll hear it.

I've stayed above too long. Gotta submerge now.

Wonderful talking to you. See you!

Goodbye, Henry.

A fish!

Harlock, you're cracking up.

Admiral, we've got to admit there's something out there.

Call it a fish or a secret weapon or a thingamajig, whatever you wish...

But it's there. Pickle... stickle saw it.

Talked to it. And it's offered to help.

All right, harlock. We'll assign this secret weapon to your ship.

- Let it help you, if you think it can. - Thank you.

But please stop bringing these fantastic reports to me.

I've heard all I wanna hear. I'll have a hard enough time explaining this to the Pentagon.

- Harlock: I understand. - And this is still top-secret.

Your secret, harlock.

Yes, sir, admiral. I was at the point of calling you about that, uh, secret weapon.

Oh, wonderful progress, sir. Wonderful.

Research phase accomplished, operational testing undenlvay.

Oh, one little thing, sir.

This mission merits our pushing through a special rating for stickle...

And a promotion for harlock. No, no, no. No, sir.

I wasn't expecting anything for myself. No, just doing my duty.

Of course, if you insist.

"Vice admiral."

Hello, George. I heard the oscillator and got here as fast as I could.

- Good news? - Very good news, Henry.

The Navy has agreed to accept your services.

You and me have been assigned to commander harlock's destroyer.

- That's wonderful. - That's quite an honor, Henry.

- Very unusual for a civilian. - Very unusual for a fish too.

Here's the hydrophone.

Oh, a water-talkie. Thanks.

Limpet to stickle.

Okay.

Henry. Now, hear this.

They'd like you to give the Navy a little assist.

Just hunt down Nazi u-boats and lead us to them.

You'll be under my direct command.

- I'm your liaison with the fleet. - I like that, George.

It won't be necessary for you to salute me or address me as "sir"...

Even though I've been promoted to piscatorial protocol specialist 1st class.

- Fine. Now, what's the first order? - They go on the prowl for u-boats at once.

- How do we keep in contact? - Signal me through the ship's oscillator...

- And I'll signal you with my thrum. - Your what?

It's a remarkable sound I make now, George. Goes over big undenivater. Like this:

Did you hear it?

Sure did. I'll pick that up, all right. Well...

Good luck, Henry. And full speed ahead.

Aye, aye, George.

Drop your charges! Hurry!

"Limpet"

"limpet"?

Limpet, limpet, limpet, limpet!

Limpet.

Scientist: The answer to das limpet.

Bring the thrum sound-maker.

The fijhrer's super-secret weapon.

The perfect Nazi counter-weapon to blitz the American unden/vater secret.

Our new beeper torpedoes will react to the thrum, and "boom." Kaput.

You're doing a very nice job, Henry. Captain harlock is pleased.

I'm glad, George.

Say, isn't that a new rating you're sporting?

Oh!

Yeah. Yeah, they gave me this little promotion here.

Chief petty officer, you know.

Skipper too. He's a four-striper now. And old admiral spewter, our big boss...

He's moving right up there, ha, ha, ha.

Well, congratulations. I suppose I'm in all the papers.

You? Well...

Well, well, no, you're not, Henry.

- Why not? - Well, um...

You're top-secret.

- We can't let a thing like this out, you know. - Yeah, I suppose not.

There's a couple of very important things I must talk to you about. Very important.

So, gentlemen, this is the rendezvous point for the mammoth convoy.

Captain harlock's destroyer will assume a vanguard position there.

And, uh, limpet will be out in front of harlock.

This convoy must get through safely. On its safe voyage depends...

The allies' greatest all-out effort:

The invasion of Europe.

I'm captain harlock, sir. I'm sorry to interrupt, but it's rather urgent.

- It may change plans for the convoy. - Yes, harlock.

May I speak with admiral spewter privately? It concerns the liaison problem...

- With the secret weapon. - Yes, certainly.

Excuse me, sir.

Fleet admiral: The cruiser Los Angeles will be the guide.

Vice admiral Jones will be the otc and will fly his flag...

All right, harlock. What is it? You interrupted an important briefing.

Stickle has relayed a request from the secret weapon.

I told you that was your responsibility.

I appreciate that, sir, but I don't have the authority...

To act on this unusual request.

- Now what? - He wants to be paid.

What?

Are you out of your mind, harlock?

How can we pay a fish?

He wants the pay sent to his wife in Brooklyn.

The fish has a wife in Brooklyn?

She's not a fish. She's a real woman.

I knew I should've thrown you out...

The first time you came to me with this fish story.

All right, I suppose we can find some way...

To push this through the paymaster's office.

Fleet admiral: British screening units will deploy to their assigned ports...

There's more?

He also wants a lieutenant's commission.

No. Absolutely, no!

It's impossible to hold two meetings here at once.

Since you won'tjoin mine, may I join yours?

I'm sorry, sir. The news harlock brought is disturbing.

Since it concerns the secret weapon, I'd like to hear it.

Our secret weapon wants to be paid. And he wants a lieutenant's commission.

Then admiral spewter, I suggest you pay him and commission him. Immediately!

Commission? But, sir, you don't understand.

I understand the secret weapon is the most vital key to the safe conduct of our convoy.

I order you to commission the secret weapon personally!

Henry's here now, sir. You ready to begin the ceremonies?

Henry limpet, this is to inform you that...

Sir. No, sir. He's over that way, sir.

I think you can see him out there. Port beam. You can see him, can't you, sir?

I might if I cared to look.

- Limpet, raise your right hand. - Ahem. Sir, sir...

Raise your right fin and I will now swear you in...

Lieutenant limpet.

A check for me? From the Navy?

What does it mean, George?

Well, it's made out to you, bessie, but it's for Henry's services.

Henry? When was Henry ever in the Navy?

You better get a grip on yourself, bessie.

He's in the Navy right now.

- Henry's alive? - Yes, but you see that...

Then I'm going to him. I'm going this minute.

- Now, bessie. - You take me to him right this second.

- Now, bessie. - Why wasn't I told this before?

How long has he been alive? I mean, when did he...?

- He didn't drown? - No.

No, but brace yourself, bessie.

He's changed.

You can't see him. You wouldn't want to.

I do want to. How can you say a thing like that? Why can't I see him?

Believe me, bessie, it's impossible. The work he's doing for the Navy is top-secret.

Now, just be happy with his paycheck. Don't even mention his name to anyone.

- There's something very fishy about this. - You said it.

A Mrs. Fish? What about a Mrs. Fish?

No, no, no. Not a "Mrs. Fish," sir. Mrs. Limpet.

- The wife of the fish. - Spewter...

She's a forceful woman, sir, very headstrong and determined.

She demands that we change her husband from a fish back into a man.

Sounds like a most humane and reasonable request. Do it!

Do it.

I beg your pardon, sir. How do we do it?

- You claim the man turned into a fish. - So I understand.

Then it's simple. Just reverse the process.

Reverse?

- We'll try, sir. - You'll do nothing of the sort.

We have a weapon of amazing effectiveness there.

You'll guard it with your life. Don't even touch it, understand?

Now, never come to me again with a ridiculous request like that.

At a time like this, when we have a giant convoy on our hands...

Ready for the biggest push of the war.

Oh, if bessie could see me now. Ha! Not bad for a 4-f fish.

The spearhead of the spearhead.

Imagine! This might make me a national hero.

My glasses. I must find my glasses.

The convoy. I'm losing the convoy.

Without my glasses, we're sunk.

Sunk? Just when the Navy needs me most.

Himmel and blitzels! It's that female flatbush.

Ladyfish, got a message for you from limpet.

He said he loves you and other such mush like that.

He loves me?

Oh, he loves me!

I don't love you, he does. Silly female.

Limpet!

Oh, crusty, do you think he'll ever come back?

Don't get yourself into a tizzy now, ladyfish.

If I know flatbush, he'll be back.

Listen.

Listen. It's him.

It's limpet!

Henry: Ladyfish.

Oh, limpet, I've never heard anything more beautiful than that noise you make.

Ladyfish, I'm in terrible trouble. I can't see.

Come along.

Any sign of him yet?

Not yet, sir.

He better show up soon or the whole operation will be snafued.

Yes, sir.

I'm not completely blind, but things are awful fuzzy.

Flatbush, what in tarnation...?

Crusty, I'm in an awful predicament. I need some glasses, and...

I kind of noticed you were missing a pair of eyes.

I've got to get back to my convoy. But how will I find it?

Tell you what, I'll be your other set of eyes. I'll climb topside and serve as your navigator.

That might do it. The sound of the convoy will guide me, and with you navigating, why...

- I can't ask you to risk your life for me. - Risk my life?

Hold everything.

Eh, maybe I ought to put on something more torpedi-proof.

-Ladyfish"_ -limpet.

- I've got to go now. I'm on duty. - Does that mean you'll be leaving me again?

Don't you care for me at all, limpet?

But I have an importantjob to do before we can talk about that anymore.

Sheesh!

Let's shove off.

- Then I'm going with you too. - No, you can't.

It's a very dangerous mission. Wait for me here, ladyfish.

All right, cast off. Full speed ahead.

No, no, hard aport. Full reverse.

Come about full, then steady as she goes.

I'll always wait for you, limpet.

Slow down, gosh darn it. I ain't got the hang of steering you yet.

Haul up your keel!

Dang near shivered your timbers that time.

Dagnab it. Hey, flatbush, wait!

He makes a...

Sorry, chief, no thrums.

Harlock: Stickle!

Any contact with that piscatorial lieutenant pal of yours?

- We're nearing enemy water, stickle. - Well, sir, it's not my fault.

Maybe Henry has laryngitis.

Me and my secret weapon.

We've come quite a way. I still can't pick up any sound of the convoy.

Do you see anything?

No. Say, why don't you make that whale-busting noise of yours again?

- Let them know you're on your way. - Yeah. I should've thought of that.

Just hold up a minute till I get inside.

Limpet... limpet!

I hear the convoy now. Dead ahead.

- Hooray, we finally made it! - Stop. Hold it. Hold it.

Whole school of big ones, coming dead at us.

Oh!

Hard right rudder. Hard right.

Henry: They're attacking our convoy!

Oh!

They're coming at us!

Stop making that whale-busting thrum of yours. Those things go for it.

Yeah, how about that? Then I'll just keep it up.

Follow me, you beeping devil.

We'll take it right back where it came from.

- What's happening below? - I don't know, sir. Might be Henry.

Something big is going on down there.

Them torpedies pack a walloping thrum too.

Henry: Great! They hit their own boats.

Henry: We've got the system now.

We'll just let them knock themselves out.

We gonna drop depth charges, skipper?

No, we don't dare.

Crash dive!

Help!

It's about time you showed up.

George.

I gotta talk to George stickle.

George stickle.

Henry!

Where have you been?

You put me in a terrible spot with captain harlock and the admiral when we lost contact.

I'm sorry, George. I had a little accident.

I lost my glasses.

Nice work anyhow, Henry.

I'll see bessie when we get back and have her get you a new pair.

We'll meet at coney island when this is over!

Aye, aye, George. See you at coney when it's all over. Carry on.

Ladyfish: Limpet, you did come back.

Yes, ladyfish. And you did wait.

- You're coming with me now? - No, but you're coming with me.

You see, I love you, but I don't know if I have any right to.

I've got to talk to my wife first.

You and I have to make a trip to coney island.

I can be your other eyes now.

Take over. I'm not going. I'd probably drown in all the slush.

Thanks for all your wonderful help, crusty.

Forget it. I like the bachelor life.

So long, flatbush.

Hate to admit it, but I'm gonna miss him.

Had to lose my best buddy to a frilly female.

Meh. Better get rid of this battle gear and get back to my civvies.

What if I told you I was once a human being?

I don't care how terrible your past was, limpet.

I'll help you forget.

Well, I've forgotten an awful lot already.

So long, flatbush.

I'll never leave you, and I hope you'll never leave me.

It's always the males who leave in our species.

That's why there's so few of us.

Henry: Heh, heh.

Well, in that case, there might be more before long.

You and I could be the beginning of a whole new and better world. Ha, ha.

I know where we are now. Follow me.

There, that's my wife.

Not much to look at, is she?

Henry: Actually, for a human, she's quite lovely.

Oh, let's get this over with, limpet. The water here is very cold.

Hello, bessie.

Henry, is that you?

Don't you recognize me, bessie?

Henry, you really are...

A fish? Yes, bessie, you can say it.

To think you're actually still alive, and I'm married to a...

A fish. Is that so terrible?

It doesn't happen every day.

Well, what's new? I mean, how have you been, bessie?

Well, I'm...

I'm bewildered, Henry.

Henry, am I the widow of a man...

Or the wife of a fish?

Well, now, let's be logical, bessie. You couldn't very well keep me in the bathtub, could you?

I suppose not. No.

- I mean, what would the neighbors say? - Oh, I shudder to think.

You know how that miss Harris objects every time I fry fish. Why...

Oh, good heavens.

Well, there you are.

Are you really happier down there, Henry?

Ah, if you only knew, bessie.

Well, I...

I guess this is goodbye, Henry.

Henry...

Henry, if you'll come up to the steps, I have something for you.

Take care of yourself, Henry.

Remember how you always catch cold when you get your feet wet.

Don't break up, bessie. I'm just fine.

Maybe all along I was meant to be a fish. Maybe nature just corrected her error.

Maybe.

Well...

Goodbye, Henry.

Goodbye, bessie. And thanks for being so sensible about this, and understanding.

- Goodbye, Henry. - Henry: So long, George.

I know you'll take good care of bessie.

And tell them not to look for me. They won't find me.

"Goodbye, Henry," I said. And I saluted.

I thought that that was it.

Bessie and I have been happy all these years. Why stir this thing up again?

Because the chief of naval operations has ordered it.

Do they really think that Henry is really teaching porpoises?

That's what we've been assigned to find out. You and I, pickle. Stickle.

Where do we start to look?

Maybe that spot off the Florida coast where Henry first contacted you.

It's worth a try. Better get on to the old man. He's going with us.

The secretary of defense has ordered him to take personal command of this mission.

"On behalf of the secretary of defense, and speaking for a grateful nation...

I'm empowered to advance you to the rank of commodore...

United States naval reserve."

And now, commodore...

Regarding porpoise activities...