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Liz eddington, pie-eyed.

- Where? - Over there.

Happy, baby?

Well, I'm gonna put a stop to this.

Paul eddington can take care of his own wife.

No, that's just the point. He can't.

He's at sea on gunnery practice.

Yeah!

Please play something else, would you?

- Thank heaven they stopped the music. - Why did they stop? Hey!

- Come on, baby, they've had their show. - I don't wanna go.

- Come on. - I don't want to!

Look, it's a stuffy Navy joint. Now let's get outta here.

- We better see that she gets home. - Mac...

- I want one last dance. - No, but I don't think we can't let her...

She's with that officer, Mac.

Yeah, but what about her poor damn Navy husband out there doing his duty?

Eddington knows about Liz.

If he wants to put up with it, that's his business.

I love you. “What?

- I just said, "I love you." - Why?

Never mind.

If you've cooled down now, I think we can go.

I'm not sure I want to go now.

You've got the duty in the morning, early.

- Lieutenant j.G. Mcconnel. - Yes, ma'am?

You've got to play captain of your ship at 6:00 A.M.

Liz!

Hey, come on in. It's great!

Come on!

I'm awake, leary.

Tell the exec to join me in my sea cabin for breakfast.

Leary?

- Well, then, bacon and eggs for me. - Aye, aye, sir.

Eddington!

Paul, wake up.

In case it slipped your mind, it's gunnery stations at 0830.

So why don't you write me up?

I don't write you up

because your record already looks like a bunch of pig tracks.

One more scratch on it and your career in this man's Navy is ended.

That's the way it ought to be, I oughta be scrapped.

I'm obsolescing like this old straw-bottomed cruiser of ours.

We both know what's eating you, Paul.

You can't wash it out with booze.

- What would you know about it? - I tried it one time.

You? The rock of ages?

I don't believe it.

Paul, you're forcing me to throw my weight at you. Fish or cut bait.

Get on your feet or take your troubles elsewhere. I got a ship to run.

I'll put in for a transfer.

You've had one transfer already, out of naval aviation.

- Might not get another chance. - I don't give a damn.

Well, that isn't what I wanted to hear you say.

I'm sorry, rock.

Okay.

If you can hold a razor in that hand, you might shave before you come topside.

Aye, aye, father torrey.

You bum!

- Hey, cut that out. - Take me home!

Come on, I need a bath.

Good morning, sir.

Boats, if the captain were coming aboard,

you wouldn't be dressed that way, would you?

I suspect not, sir.

Well, then let's crawl back in a uniform. You make us look like a bunch of pirates.

Aye, aye, Mr. mcconnel.

All right, 15-2, 15-4... Double run of 8 for 12, your crib.

- Anything interesting? - I got a run of three.

All the carriers pulled out Friday night.

For where?

Scuttlebutt says south. Lahaina roads, maybe.

Sir, I got that Hawaiian sea frontier dispatch decoded.

Give it to our captain, lieutenant j.G. Mcconnel.

- More fun and games? - No.

"Destroyer ward and the inshore patrol dropped depth charges

"on a submarine contact inside the defensive sea area."

Some poor Joe's really got it in the wringer now.

Attacking one of our own subs.

Better commence evasive zigzag pattern, commander.

- Set extra lookouts. - Aye, aye, sir.

- Good morning, captain. - Good morning, commander eddington.

And how are you this fine day?

Splendid, thank you, sir. What's the alert?

Destroyer ward dropped depth charges on what they think is a sub,

about 15 miles away, near the sea buoy.

And another poor whale lost its blubber.

Sir? Yes?

Are we just looking for subs or planes, too?

Anything, son.

Well, there's a large formation of planes orbiting north of the island, sir.

Looks like they got the pilots up early for squadron exercises.

Strange place to rendezvous.

Why aren't they over diamond head where they belong?

Sir, there's a formation off diamond head, too.

- Make it no drill. - Yes, sir.

This is not a drill. This is not a drill.

General quarters, general quarters. All hands man your battle stations.

On deck. Attention fo colors.

Bridge. Aye, aye.

Mr. mcconnel?

Mcconnel.

We're getting some funny signals, Mac.

I guess I'm crazy but it sounds like plane-to-plane chatter to me, in Japanese.

Japs! “What?

Japs!

Oh, my god, they're japs! Liz, come on!

Come on!

Emergency sortie signal from the yard tower.

Engine room? Bridge. Light off all four boilers.

Make all preparations for getting underway.

Report readiness status in five minutes.

- Cut in all burners. - Cut in all burners.

Disengage checking gear. Open guarding valves.

Flip the electric rolls.

General quarters, general quarters. All hands man your battle stations.

- Quoddy. - Aye, sir.

- Can you take us out? - You call it, Mr. mcconnel.

- Mac, you gotta wait for the captain. - Screw the captain.

- Sir, ring up turns for 20 knots. - Aye, aye, sir.

- Twenty knots through the harbor? - You heard the man, son.

Take her away, Mac. She's got enough to move now and building up fast.

Quoddy, right 10 degrees rudder. Steady up on 1-2-0.

Aye, aye, sir.

- It's captain Harding, sir, and the exec. - Slow down!

How can we stop? It'll take 20 minutes at this speed.

Does anybody on this bridge see anything back there?

Let us board! Stop!

If they does, Mr. mcconnel, I'll guarantee they'll never see nothin' again!

Let her rip, Mac!

Advise me of any further messages.

How many ships are answering the emergency sortie signal?

Destroyer cassiaay's moving, sir.

The harkness, Ballard, cruisers greely and Jackson...

The battleships, man!

None, sir.

- Out of nine battleships? - None, sir.

Lookout reports tin can breaking out, sir.

Paul, signal all ships coming out to form up with us.

Aye, aye, sir.

- That can't be all. - That's all captain torrey reports, sir.

Three light cruisers and eight destroyers. Grouped to captain torrey's heavy cruiser.

- None is equipped with radar. - Twelve bat-blind ships.

Well, gentlemen. Your opinions.

We must position them to repel an invasion, sir.

- You mean wait, admiral Broderick. - We have no choice, sir. Wait.

Seek out and destroy, if at all possible, sir.

What can 12 ships do

against the task force the japs have mounted?

In my opinion, that would be a futile gesture.

You know, it could give us time to bring our carriers within range.

But what if torrey can't contact the jap fleets? Suppose they slip by him?

He has no radar, one scout plane.

The risk is too great, admiral, leaving our shores unprotected.

- I repeat, sir. We must wait. - Thank you, admiral Broderick.

Order captain torrey to assume command of his task group

and seek out and engage the enemy if possible.

- All your personal problems resolved? - Well, let's say they're cut down a size.

Dispatch has come in from fleet operations, sir.

- Burke? - From cincpac.

"Japanese believed retiring toward jaluit for refueling.

"Proceed to latitude 18 north, longitude 162 west.

"Seek out and engage the enemy. Godspeed.”

Well! “Well!

Have all ships report usable fuel aboard.

Break radio silence.

Ask cincpac for a tanker rendezvous at first light tomorrow.

- After you figure our projected position. - Aye, aye, sir.

We'll play hell getting a tanker out of Pearl.

If we don't, we'll be sucking air instead of oil by midnight tomorrow.

Sir, the starboard lookout has a ship on the bow.

A tanker, he thinks, sir.

She's riding high. She's empty.

Yeah, she's going home, if a sub doesn't get her.

At the rate we're burning fuel,

we'll have to turn around and head for home inside of 10 hours.

We could reduce speed and conserve fuel.

And crawl at 10 knots? Then we'd never find any japs.

If we were to cease zigzagging...

Now, that'd be an invitation to enemy submarines.

There might be subs out there, and there might not be.

Well, whether there are or whether there aren't subs out there,

if we were to steer a straight course,

we could add another six hours to our steaming time.

Resume our base course.

- Straighten us out, commander Burke. - Aye, aye, sir.

Rock, you just threw the book away.

How long is torrey gonna keep pushing?

We haven't got enough fuel left to hold the keel down.

If I know him, he'll run the rope out and then add some string to it.

- Where do you know him? - From the academy.

He instructed there for three years.

We call him the rock. Scared the hell outta you.

He's all Navy and nothin' but Navy.

I don't think he ever left the campus,

like he was a ship, and he had nowhere else to go.

Sonar contact, sir, bearing 0-2-0. Range 2,000 and closing.

Make turns for 20 knots. Set condition able.

Close all watertight doors.

Set condition able. Close all watertight doors.

Tell sonar to keep those bearings and ranges coming.

Range 1800 closing.

- Cline? You on the recorder? - You know it, buddy.

Signal flagship we're about to attack sonar contact.

Cassiaay reports submarine contact.

- Have all ships resume zigzag. - Aye, aye, sir.

- 0-1-51t is, sir. - Stand by to roll depth charges.

Stand by to roll depth charges.

Stern racks. Roll one.

Stern racks. Roll one.

Roll two.

They're on it, sir.

They hit the cruiser!

Get a report from all damage control parties.

Sir, she's going dead in the water.

Midship damage control doesn't answer up, sir.

Neither does the forward engine room, sir.

Shall I go below, sir?

Send a messenger when you locate the main damage.

In case you don't know, that arm's busted.

- What's wrong? - The door's jammed.

Get a message off to Pearl. "Have taken two torpedoes," fill in our position.

- "Extent of damage unknown. We'll advise." - And break radio silence, sir?

Burke, don't you think the Japanese know by now where we are?

Aye, aye, sir.

The door may blow. Stand clear, now! Come on. Stand clear.

Griggs, get those mattresses down on the lower level.

Stand by to fire another full pattern.

Roll one.

Roll three.

Order the destroyers back to Pearl at best possible speed, zigzagging.

Cassiaay got the sub, sir. Definite kill, sir.

Hold it!

Hold it, correction.

Have all ships return to Pearl at 20 knots, except the cassiday.

Have her stand by in case we have to abandon ship.

Aye, aye, sir.

Okay...

- Compliments of commander eddington, sir. - Just give me the word, griggs.

Commander eddington says this old tub'll float, sir.

- At ease. - Thank you, sir.

Full report.

Well, we've halted the fires up forward where we took the first torpedo, sir.

And we stopped the flow of water at hatch 26.

Commander eddington said to tell the old man that...

I'm sorry, sir, the captain, sir...

That he'd better start thinking about a tow.

May I also say, sir, that commander eddington

is hell on wheels, sir?

What are the casualties”?

Well, at least 40 men were trapped up forward, sir.

- Forty men, maybe more. I don't know. - Destroyer cassiday coming alongside, sir.

Thank you.

Take care of this boy.

Nice work, Harding. You did a good job on that sub.

Thank you, sir. I'm not commander Harding, sir.

- Where is he? - Ashore, sir.

- Well, who's in command? - I am, sir. Lieutenant j.G. Mcconnel, sir.

Did I hear "lieutenant junior grade"?

William mcconnel, class of '38, sir.

- Well, can you rig for towing? - Can do, sir.

Can you pass some portable pumps to us?

Can do, sir.

Carry on, mister.

Can do.

The old rock of ages. We got ourselves another war.

A gut-bustin', mother-lovin' Navy war.

It does seem to shape up that way, commander eddington.

Captain torrey, the admiral will see you now.

Thank you.

- Please sit down, captain torrey. - Thank you, sir.

I wasn't aware you'd been hurt.

A simple fracture, sir. It won't interfere with my duties.

You have a remarkable record, captain torrey.

- Thank you, sir. - Save your thanks.

It's my duty to relieve you of your command

pending the findings of a court of inquiry.

I don't understand, sir.

You weren't zigzagging when you took the torpedo hit.

I was stretching my fuel, sir.

If you didn't have enough fuel to complete your mission,

why didn't you turn back for Pearl?

My mission was to intercept and engage

Dan enemy of greatly superior strength, sir.

I could only take that one way, that my group was expendable.

I doubt if a court of inquiry will accept that.

Captain, you're about to be caught in the vacuum

between a peacetime Navy and a wartime Navy.

Six months from now, they'll be making admirals

out of captains who exhibit some guts.

But right now, they're only reacting to the Pearl harbor disaster

and punishment is order of the day.

Of course, you don't have to abide by what a court of inquiry decides.

You can ask for a general court-martial,

get yourself couple of crack sea lawyers and make a fight of it.

I wouldn't care to do that, sir.

- Why not? - Second-generation Navy, admiral.

I see.

I don't plan to ask for your court-martial either, captain, and I've lost a fleet.

So, I expect we'll both just take what they give us

and trust it'll be a useful job somewhere.

Yes, sir.

- Good luck. - Good luck to you, sir.

If I haven't got him, maybe he's still alive.

It must be a mistake, he was clever...

Comb, compact...

- The child can't be lost... - Two rings... purse.

- Maybe the police know where he is. - Sign here, please.

He was my only boy, and I love him so much.

- Won't you do something for me? - This way for identification.

Go back to the police. Maybe the police can help.

I want you to help me, please.

- Lady... - He was my only boy.

You don't know what it is, do you? You don't have a boy! That's why!

Disposition?

- Okay. - What do you want to do?

- Well, I'll send someone. - Thank you.

And the man she was brought in with?

Army air force claimed the body a couple of days ago.

A very pretty name.

- You been here long? - I'm from the big island. Hawaii.

- I like it better. - Ilike it better, too.

Where's my drink?

Right here, doll. I made you a fresh one.

- Thanks. - Bourbon.

Sorry, sir, we sell nothin' but beer.

- Martial law. - Okay, beer.

How come the air corps rates a drink and Navy doesn't?

They brought that bottle in. I just served them set up.

What's the matter, commander, running dry down here?

Let me sweeten that beer for you.

Share and share alike, we're all in this war.

Little more? Okay... how's that?

Would you like to join us?

We just got two chicks, but like I said, we're all in this war. Share and share...

Send the police to the blue lagoon.

Come.

Sir, I just got word on commander eddington.

- What about him? - He's in the Honolulu brig, sir.

- He's in the brig? - That's the word, sir.

Will you see that my clothes are packed

and, along with this, sent over to the bachelors officers' quarters?

Yes, sir. Can I help you with that?

- Is that all, sir? - I travel light.

Well, commander Burke...

Sir...

Well, goodbye, sir.

Goodbye.

You're released into your captain's custody, sir.

Sergeant.

This is yours, sir.

I'll walk you to the duty boat. I've been relieved of command.

Bastards!

Sorry about your wife.

You know you got yourself into a pretty good fix. A public brawl...

What the hell.

A new aa cruiser going out to join halsey.

She's a tiger.

A fast ship going in harm's way.

A lousy situation, commander eddington.

Lousy.

Stay still.

Good. If you'll come with me, please, captain.

Shoot those over to Dr. lyons as soon as they're ready.

Yes, ma'am.

- Doctor? - Yes.

This is a three-month-old fracture, there was some initial infection.

The x-rays will be along in a few minutes.

Thank you. Sit down, captain.

Thank you.

Now, that's a real nice sound to wake up to.

- What is Vicki marlowe's secret? - Well, it's not what it says in here.

Vicki marlowe's secret is

that she's making half a million bucks a year

and she still collects alimony from me, in my present reduced circumstances.

Well, anyway...

I have the satisfaction of knowing that all of her pictures have been stinkers

since I stopped writing them.

Rockwell, my boy, I tell you never, I repeat, never marry a movie actress.

- You married three of 'em. - I know, it's like eating peanuts.

Once I started, I couldn't stop!

Hey, look at you! Two hands, congratulations.

- Shall we celebrate? - Don't know what you have in mind.

There's some action up at a place in moanalua.

No, no parties for me.

Anyway, when do you so-called special intelligence officers

do whatever it is you're supposed to do?

Seems to me, you sleep all day and charge out to parties every night.

Well, us civilians need more rest and recreation than you old salts.

Not that you couldn't use a little.

It's about time you crawled down from mount rushmore

and to look around for yourself.

You'd be surprised at the changes that we've made in the last 100 years.

And, man, I tell you, the women,

they're smoking cigarettes, drinking whiskey,

doing the shimmy-sham-shimmy hot damn, man...

- Very funny. - Come on, rock, huh?

No, no, thanks.

Okay. What?

Maybe you're right.

I gotta do something besides sit at a desk

and count the ink stains on the blotter.

Who's our host?

Whoever knows the host of these shindigs? Some pineapple moneybags.

Are you sure you were invited?

Maybe not, but then one sailor looks like another.

Give me your hat.

Egan Powell!

I want you to meet captain torrey. This is Mrs...

- Let me see... - Henderson.

Henderson, yes!

How do you do?

Follow me.

Hello, Paula.

Well... thank you very much.

Let's go over here.

It's very important to relax, old boy. Very important.

- Paul, how are you? - Hello, egan. How are you?

- Introduce me to your beautiful wife. - Gaby, this is egan.

- How do you do? - You don't mind if I cut in, do you?

Hold that, will you?

- Enjoying the party, captain torrey? - Yes, thank you. Fine party.

It's fine.

- You think so? - It's great.

Thank you.

- It's funny. - What's funny?

It's not exactly funny, it's just that you're so different from your son.

- My son? - Ensign jere torrey.

At least he claims his father's a captain. I just supposed you were it.

That's my son's name. Jeremiah. Jere.

He's been dating my roommate. Frankly, it worries me a little.

She's a green kid from Vermont and he's a real smooth Harvard type.

I think she's about to fall in love with him.

That's what worries me.

- Will it be all right? - I hope so.

Not much comfort.

- How's the arm? - I beg your pardon?

- Your arm! - It's fine.

I'm nurse lieutenant haynes. I took the x-rays today.

- I'm sorry! - Thank you for not recognizing me.

I made a special effort to not look like a nurse.

Don't take me too seriously, but ensign torrey,

I'm sure he's everything he should be.

I'm flying under false colors, Ms. haynes. I don't know my son.

I've been divorced for many years.

He's been raised by his mother and her family.

I didn't even know he was in the Navy.

Well...

Much as I'd like to, I won't ask any more questions about that.

I hate to leave this quiet, restful place but I have to get back to the hospital.

I don't have to get any place but out. Can I grab a cab and drop you?

Let me drop you. I borrowed a car from my landlord's gardener.

Thank you, Ms. haynes.

I'm called Maggie, if you'd like to be less formal sometime.

Well, thank you for that, too.

But don't wait too long.

- Captain. - Maggie.

- Ensign torrey? - No, sir.

I was told at your staff duty office that ensign torrey

had the watch aboard this craft.

Yes, sir. Well?

- I'll get him for you, sir. - Thank you.

Get topside, quick. Brass!

- Did you hear me? He wants you. - I'm going.

We're gonna get it. I shouldn't have been standing your watch!

Take it easy.

I'm ensign torrey, sir.

You wanted to see me, sir?

- I'm your father, jere. - Yes, sir.

You look like your mother.

Yes, sir.

Is she well? Very well, sir.

Sit down.

Thank you, sir.

Do you often stand your watch in your cabin?

Ensign farris was kind enough to relieve me for a few minutes, sir.

Motor torpedo boat duty. How do you like it?

I don't like it, sir.

Well, then why did you choose it? It's a voluntary duty, isn't it?

I volunteered on advice, sir.

This unit's assigned to admiral Broderick's command.

I was advised that once I was in at admiral Broderick's command,

a transfer could be arranged to the admiral's staff.

Might I ask you who gave you the advice?

Commander Neal owynn, sir, the admiral's public relations officer.

I'll be his assistant. I expect you've heard of Neal owynn.

No.

He's quite a well-known congressman, sir.

He resigned from office to join the service.

Your mother's family can usually pull strings to get what they want.

- You disapprove, sir? - Well, you trained on these boats.

You'd be a damn sight more useful here than in public relations.

I majored in journalism at the university, sir.

And as long as I must do my bit in this trumped-up war,

I prefer to do what I'm best suited for.

Did I hear you say "trumped-up war"?

It is Mr. Roosevelt's war, isn't it?

You not only look like a cunliffe, you talk like one of them.

I remember they said the first one was Mr. Wilson's war.

- Well, what's your duty, sir? - Routing convoys.

Myself, I expect to be in the forward areas,

if not actually in combat.

Admiral Broderick's been assigned to handle

a very important offensive called skyhook.

I wouldn't know about that.

I wouldn't expect you would, sir.

Commander Neal owynn gave me the information.

Are you leaving, sir?

Yes. Before I pick you up and throw you to the fish.

I was four years old when you left my mother.

I don't even remember you.

And for 18 years, you haven't bothered to remember me.

So why did you bother to come here tonight?

Let's just say that I did come and let it go at that.

Good night, ensign.

- How! - Egan!

Where've you been hiding out for the last 10 days? Or should I ask?

Well, you shouldn't, but I can tell you

there were three inches of snow in Washington.

Washington! Got the war all worked out?

If you buy me lunch, I'll give you the day and the date of victory.

- I am your man. - Good.

Run these courses off on the big chart for me, will you?

Aye, aye, sir.

Well, our jobs here is to see that information given out to the press corps

is good for the general war effort and good for the Navy.

And good for Broderick.

Well, what's good for admiral Broderick

is good for the war effort and for the Navy.

With a little left over for Neal owynn?

How's your campaign, colonel, with the little nurse?

I'm seeing her tonight.

Why don't you come along? She's got a roommate that's not bad.

What do you know about an operation called skyhook?

- Where did you get that, rock? - Well, is it important?

There's not more than 20 people between here and the white house

that's supposed to know that name.

Well, there's 21 now, or maybe 22 or 23.

I got it indirectly through an ex-congressman named owynn.

That's Broderick's drumbeater. He needs a zipper in his face.

Frankly, that's top secret stuff. Rock, I can't tell you about it.

Okay, okay!

You say that you got it indirectly, from owynn?

See that young ensign there, lighting his cigarette?

- That's owynn he's sitting with. - Well, that's where I got it.

From that ensign?

He's my son.

Well, I'd like to meet him, rock.

No, you wouldn't.

He had his chances to ask me. Ten days' worth of chances, that's enough.

- He didn't call me. So I called him. - How did you have the nerve?

Annalee, dear, past a certain age, men are apt to avoid making sudden moves,

you know, where women are concerned.

The women have to do the sudden moving

or everybody stands still until it's too late.

It gets late fast in these times.

And I like this man, I want him to know it. Now.

But suppose he and jere bump into each other,

jere's very funny about his father.

Let 'em bump. It might be interesting to see what happens.

- This must be jere. - I'll go.

- Hello, ensign. - Yes, ma'am, lieutenant.

- Be a minute or two... she'll be down. - Thank you, ma'am.

Lieutenant, ma'am...

I'd like to invite extend an invitation for you to come with us.

It'll be dinner with commander Neal owynn.

Thanks, ensign, but I'm waiting for a friend.

You're more than welcome to bring her, or him, along, ma'am.

Well, if my friend arrives in time, we'll see.

Well, I'm here to see a nurse. What are you here for?

To see a nurse.

Seems like we have something in common after all.

I'm just a chip off the old block, sir.

- Hello. - Ms. haynes.

Captain torrey. Ensign annalee dorne.

- Ms. dorne. - You've met my friend.

Sir, I've invited Ms. haynes and friend

to dine with us at commander Neal owynn's quarters.

- I hope you'll accept the invitation, sir. - Well, that's very gracious of you.

But Ms. haynes and I have other plans. Right, lieutenant?

Yes, sir.

- Well, in that case... - In that case, good afternoon, sir.

Ms. dorne.

- You run a taut ship. - He's not a bad-looking kid, is he?

No, he isn't.

I brought you something.

What is it? - Candy.

Candy! Thank you.

- Shall we eat at the chinaman's? - No.

We're going to eat here in my garage penthouse, if you don't mind.

- I wouldn't want to... - Please, don't disappoint me.

I haven't cooked for a man in a long time.

Pour us a drink.

Now, if I can get this oven hot enough, we're gonna have biscuits.

- You want water in yours? - Yes, but don't drown the whiskey.

I'm not a lady, rock.

I started out life as an army brat and I never tried to change.

Here's how.

- Did you say army? - My father was a one-star general.

Daddy... he was an angel and a devil, and I was nuts about him.

So nuts, in fact, that I married his aide.

Would you try to open this can for me, please?

You say you married his aide?

- He wasn't much of a man. - This cutter's broken.

Not very smart or very brave.

Maybe I just expected him to be daddy and he wasn't.

That's quite a knife you carry.

Yeah, it's a can opener, screwdriver, punch,

straight blade, even a skinning blade.

That is useful. What do you skin?

Lieutenant nurses who pull my leg.

- Where was I? - Just married.

Yes. I left him, right here in Honolulu, shacked up with a wahine from kauai.

That was eight years ago. He quit the service and married that lady.

I drifted for a while till I had to latch onto something or go down the drain.

I went to nursing school and joined the Navy.

- Now I'd like to know more about you. - Navy.

My father was a chief petty officer, and I went to the academy.

- Is that the best you can do? - Unless you want my service record.

There's your son...

- Hi! - Hello, jere. Well, just the two of you?

- Ms. haynes couldn't join us. - I'm sure that's my loss.

Commander owynn, I'd like you to meet ensign dorne.

What a beautiful place.

Well, I'm afraid my friend who owns it didn't leave much of a liquor supply

when he decided to sit the war out on the mainland.

I can give you a choice of pernod

and gin... yes, there is a little Brandy.

- Brandy for me. - Ms. dorne?

I don't know... Gin, I guess, but not much.

Gin, but not much.

My unit got orders today.

We're being assigned to comsopacsub area 3, whatever that is.

Commander third sub area, south west pacific.

Sounds very impressive.

- Have you been alerted? - No, just assigned.

Third area is admiral Broderick's command.

- Jere's admiral? - The same.

Can't get away from the torreys, can I?

We can sit down.

Hey! We're alone.

- Where's commander owynn? - It's okay.

Dinner is ready.

Aren't we waiting for commander owynn?

He was called to head to headquarters, madam.

Well, I guess it's just the two of us.

Ever hear the name cunliffe?

It's one of those expensive new england names, isn't it?

Well, she was a cunliffe, jere's mother.

I met her at a Navy ball, 1917.

She was beautiful.

I don't know why she married me.

I was just an ensign.

I bet you were something when you were an ensign!

I fell over my feet most of the time.

When I came back from the war, I had a son.

And the cunliffes had great plans for me.

I was to resign my commission in the Navy

and do something useful, the stock market.

They sat with teacups on their laps and ticker tape coming out of their ears

and I said, "no."

It was quite a scene.

Then athalie...

That was her name, athalie...

Said, "Rockwell, I will not become a camp follower.

"Whenever you're not busy boating with the Navy,

"feel free to come visit us."

And that's the way it was. I visited.

Then I was assigned to duty in the Philippines and that ended it.

You left out one small detail.

You were terribly in love with her.

You're a good cook, Maggie.

And you look lovely in the candlelight.

- You haven't had much to say. - I guess I havent.

- Would you like to dance? - I don't think so.

Come sit over here.

- Please don't do that. - Well, what's the matter?

I think we better go home. I don't like this, I don't like any of it.

Since when?

Since your commander so conveniently disappeared.

I didn't know you missed him so much. I'm jealous!

You know what I mean. It makes me feel cheap.

Take it easy! He won't be back for a long time.

I'm sorry, jere, but I want to go.

What kind of an idiot do you take me for? “What?

Talk about cheap, there's nothing cheaper than a teaser.

What do you mean?

Well, isn't that what you've been doing, teasing?

I have not!

I thought we... I thought you...

- Wait a minute! - Let me go!

I've spent my life learning the things that I know about men and ships

and how to use them in action.

I just don't fit behind a desk, I...

I'm not cut out for it, I feel dry-docked.

- Oh, well. - Thanks.

Thanks?

Who else have you said these things to recently? Or ever?

- That'll be annalee and your son. - I'd better...

- Thanks, fellas. - You're welcome, ensign.

I think that had to happen.

Good night, rock.

Good night, Maggie.

- Any time, rock. Any time at all. - Thank you, Maggie.

Yeah, go ahead and I'll be there.

- Sir, commander Powell is waiting for you. - Thanks.

- Greetings, captain! - What are you so happy about?

This... want to close that door?

I have a very private little job for you, no one but you.

Three convoys to be routed to this island, toulebonne.

Toulebonne, that's where Paul eddington is stationed.

It's also Broderick's new base.

Skyhook again?

Here's the shipping list.

- Well, that's a lot of tonnage. - It's hard to come by.

Cincpac wants it all to arrive on time and intact.

The first convoy has already been loaded, personnel goes on board Thursday morning.

Now, when they shove off is up to you.

I think I see it.

See what?

Skyhook.

All right.

Jap supply lines must be spread out pretty thin south of cape titan.

So Broderick could hit lalatea, muk or gavabutu.

And from any of those islands, he could launch a strike against...

- Levu-vana. - And why levu-vana?

'Cause it has a central plain large enough for b-17 airstrips.

Get a flock of b-17s in there,

and we can control that area for 1,000 miles in any direction.

Good night.

- Maggie! - Hello, sailor!

Pleasant surprise.

You're not easy to talk to on the phone, so I decided to ambush you.

Come in.

- This is nice, rock. - Sit down.

- Can I offer you a drink? - No, nothing. Thanks.

My unit is ordered to report to Ford island in the morning at 6:00.

We weren't told any more than that but it can only mean one thing.

You'll be at sea by noon, Maggie.

- Did you know I was going? - I knew there was a convoy pulling out.

Wouldn't like to give me a hint about our destination?

You know I can't do that. You'll be told after you sail.

Is it a long way?

Long way.

Then we won't meet again in what's called the foreseeable future, right?

Right.

Do you think we'd better let it go at that?

- Hello? - Commander Powell.

Just a moment.

For you, Powell.

- Commander Powell speaking. - Egan? Rock.

- Can you bunk out tonight? - I can manage, rock.

Thanks, egan.

Maggie?

Yes, rock.

Permission to board, sir?

State your business.

Commander eddington. Toulebonne naval base.

I'd like to see nurse lieutenant Maggie haynes.

Permission granted.

Ahoy, there! Is this the admiral's harem?

Lieutenant Maggie haynes! Lieutenant Maggie haynes!

- I'm here, lieutenant. - Compliments of captain Rockwell torrey.

I'm Paul eddington, Maggie.

I'll gonna call you Maggie

because that's what the rock said in his letter.

"Make sure Maggie haynes is welcome when she gets to toulebonne," so...

Welcome, Maggie haynes.

It's beautiful.

There's a bottle of cognac under the bananas.

I know how dry these naval transports can get.

Will you excuse me?

This is annalee dorne.

You've been here a long time, haven't you, commander?

Well, since January.

Getting this old French naval base ready to service our ships.

You have a barracks ready to house 50 nurses?

We've been on this tub for three weeks.

- Didn't you get the word? - No.

This convoy sails again tonight, less 300 miles, an island named gavabutu.

- That's where they're gonna need nurses. - An offensive?

Well, I guess so.

- Are you also going to gavabutu? - No!

The Navy can't do without me here. Why, this whole island might sink!

You don't like what you're doing?

It's like working in a filling station, watching the cars go by.

Well, goodbye, Maggie haynes.

When you write to the rock, tell him I was sober.

He won't believe it, but tell him anyway.

Bye, commander.

Control... station 26.

I have him. Pby approaching from southwest.

- Roger 26. Patrol plane off course. - Hi.

- Spotter 26. - 26.

Formation northeast of your station. Should be f4fs.

Check, control. Three f4fs proceeding northeast...

- To southwest. - Roger, 26.

- You read those planes pretty quickly. - I didn't at first.

I couldn't tell a pby from a seagull.

How are you, captain?

There's no way to make this easy, Mrs. mcconnel.

I came up here to tell you that your husband is missing in action.

You won't get the official telegram for a day or two.

I read it in a report this morning and...

Ask control to relieve you. I'll take you home.

I'm all right.

Where did it happen?

His destroyer was working alone in the gavabutu area.

Reported two aerial torpedo hits,

then communications were cut off.

An aerial search the following day failed to produce anything.

No survivors at all?

None reported.

Station 26.

Are you there, 267 - 26.

We have a bogey on the screen fo the south of you. Can you make it out?

At-6, about 9,000 feet.

- Are you there, 267 - At-6, control.

Those damn training planes wander around like bats.

Okay, 26. Over and out.

Thanks.

Captain, was Mac wasted?

Wasted? What do you mean?

I want to read you part of a letter from Mac.

"We are getting hell from jap planes that are based right on gavabutu.

"I don't know much about amphibious operations,

"but if admiral Broderick knows anything at all, I'll eat my hat.

"This has been a three-star mess from the day it began..."

I'm surprised that Mac would put that in a letter.

He wouldn't have, unless he were discouraged and angry.

Beverly, I don't think you better show that letter to anyone.

I don't intend to. Is it true?

If it is, if things are that bad, I'm sure there'll be some changes.

Aren't they that bad, captain?

Yes, I believe they are.

Station 26.

- 26, control. - Check plane to northeast.

Check, control.

Small training plane moving northeast to southwest...

Sir, I have a message from cincpac's office.

What is it?

You're requested to appear at number 10 makalapa for dinner.

Early, sir. 1800.

- You'll just have time to change, sir. - Okay, Simpson.

Take me home.

Gentlemen, we'll get to the business of the evening.

I could have saved myself little time and liquor

by trying and setting this business in my office,

but I think it needs a little ceremony.

Powell, you got that dispatch?

"From chief of naval personnel to captain Rockwell torrey, cincpac fleet.

"You are hereby advised that the president has approved the action of the flag off,

"so selection board advanced you

"to temporary grade of rear admiral, lower half,

"with date of rank 1 August 1942.

"In regards to promotion, physical examination,

"the oval office's acceptance of appointment, and so forth."

This more or less came about, admiral torrey,

because that civilian-type fellow sitting next to you

wormed his way into my intelligence staff

and had the audacity to suggest the Navy was wrong

in its judgement of you last December.

Well, now, we all know the Navy's never wrong,

but in this case, it was a little weak on being right.

- So, congratulations, admiral torrey. - Thank you, sir.

- Powell, you can get on with the honors. - Thank you, sir.

Gentlemen, to admiral Rockwell torrey.

- May success follow your flag. - Hear, hear!

I do thank you and I'm grateful.

Admiral, with your permission, sir.

To our country, our Navy, and all the best things they stand for.

Hear, hear!

Now, admiral torrey, when the congratulations Peter out,

if you will please join commander Powell and me in my study.

- Gentlemen, I'll see y'all later. - Good night.

Congratulations, rock...

Well, we gave him the molasses, now let's feed him the sulfur.

Admiral, know what that is?

Yes, from the shape of those islands.

This is gavabutu, levu-vana, toko-rota and that's pala passage.

It's skyhook.

Powell here tells me you guessed the strategy couple months ago.

- A wild guess, sir. - Wild, but accurate.

- Well, what's your opinion of it? - In theory, good.

In fact?

Well, the delay has cost you the element of surprise.

How far has Broderick advanced on gavabutu?

He's got himself bottled up behind these mountains.

He hasn't advanced an inch in four weeks.

Well, he better break the bottle and take that whole island

or you can forget skyhook.

He's got to launch an attack on levu-vana before the japs there are ready for it.

Torrey, you just named your own poison.

You're going to mop up gavabutu and mount the invasion of levu-vana.

Well, how about admiral Broderick, sir?

Some smart man once said that on the most exalted throne in the world

we are seated on nothing but our own arse.

Well, where Broderick's concerned, I'm on mine.

'Cause I can't fire him, I can't scramble his whole command overnight.

He has a bad effect on our allies, and aid and comfort to the enemy.

All I can do is, put you in tactical command of the operation.

Abe Lincoln once found himself

in the same predicament with general George b. Mcclellan.

Mcclellan was a great little organizer

but he couldn't make up his mind when to fight.

And indecision is a virus that can run through an army

and destroy its will to win, or even to survive.

Lincoln called in a hard-headed yankee named Grant

and Grant didn't give a damn about organization

but neither was he afflicted with the virus.

He just pointed his battalions in the right direction and shoved off.

Torrey, you're going to be my Grant.

And however you deal with Broderick is your own business.

Just get the job done.

But just how far can I go in dealing with admiral Broderick?

You can't kill him.

- May I name my own chief of staff? - You got a tough one in mind?

Eddington, he was my exec on the old swayback.

I'll attend to it.

Also, I'd like you to take Powell here with you,

he's familiar with the Broderick problem.

Besides, I'd like to get rid of him.

- Reserve officers give me hay fever. - Thank you, sir.

Torrey, these were my stars before I picked up this heavy hardware.

I like to think they brought me luck.

Wear 'em on your collar.

If there's any luck in 'em, you're gonna need it.

Thank you, sir.

Saree?

Saree?

Don't you know better than to disturb a man at work?

I wouldn't interfere for the world, sir,

but you have a hot order to get back to headquarters, sir.

- For what? - Don't know, sir.

No, I go, baby.

Yes, I come back, baby. I'll come back. Don't you worry about that.

I'm not going to take it,

not for one by god minute am I gonna take it.

I've sweated marbles over this ill-advised, premature operation.

But I can't work miracles, not with the handful of material they've given me.

I'm gonna fly to Pearl and lay it on the line with cincpac.

But I don't think you should do anything that hasty, admiral.

Hasty?

Torrey'll be on gavabutu in three days.

Do you want me to be a doormat, with "welcome"

written across my backside?

Well, of course, you know best about these things, but...

If torrey flops, you can always point your finger at cincpac

for putting him in there, can't you?

Now, suppose on the other hand,

he gets some action out of the gavabutu personnel

that they haven't produced for you.

Well, you're still the area commander, aren't you?

You'll get the lion's share of the credit.

Area commander or not,

I won't even know what he's doing until he's done it.

And where will I be? I'll be sitting here on toulebonne with my face hanging out

and every news correspondent in the islands will know it.

Well, the answer to that is simple enough.

You'll need sort of a...

Well, a representative in torrey's camp

who can very quietly keep you informed about what's happening.

Yes, that might help.

Sir, commander eddington has arrived.

- You're eddington? - Yes, sir.

Officer in charge of piers and warehouses?

That's right, sir.

I sent for you more than two hours ago. What kept you?

Well, I was in native quarters, sir, recruiting native labor

for piers and warehouses, sir.

That doesn't mean you have to look like a native, does it?

Well, I didn't expect to be called into the presence of the admiral, sir.

Didn't you see the directive that all personnel be clean-shaven,

commander eddington?

I must have missed it, sir.

Is that why the admiral wanted to see me, about my beard?

Eddington, by order of cincpac you're being transferred to gavabutu,

with the rank of captain.

Are you sure you have the right eddington, sir?

You're being assigned to admiral Rockwell torrey as his chief of staff.

That's all.

Admiral torrey, sir? Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.

Well, if that's a sample of torrey's staff...

You suggested I needed

a personal representative on gavabutu, owynn.

Okay, you're it.

You'll be my liaison officer, we'll call it.

Well, you know I don't have any combat training,

I really don't think I'd be...

Don't crawfish now, it was your idea.

Besides, a little forward-area duty might be just the thing for you.

Think what a combat ribbon or even a purple heart

in your buttonhole would mean to you after the war.

That ought to be worth half a million votes when you run for office.

Sir, let me be the first to welcome you to this land of milk and honey.

- Colonel Gregory, paramarines. - Colonel.

It's a pleasure, sir.

Egan Powell, intelligence. My aide, Mr. Armstrong.

Colonel, your men in shape for a parachute drop?

Maybe they're a little bit rusty, sir, but they're eager as hell.

Attention!

At ease.

Tuthill, sir, operations.

- Jefferson, sir. Logistics. - Lantz, sir. Communications.

Carry on, men.

- Gottlieb, sir, weather. - Mr. gottlieb.

I'm Clayton canfil, for admiral torrey. I run the coast-watching system.

Canfil owned a plantation here before the war, sir.

You're an Australian, aren't you, Mr. canfil?

- That I am, sir. - We're happy to have you with us.

Thank you, sir.

- Well, lieutenant, how are you? - Very well, thank you, sir.

Commander Neal owynn, sir.

What is your function, commander?

Personal liaison for admiral Broderick, sir.

The admiral felt that the closest possible rapport

should be kept between toulebonne and the forward areas.

He wants to give you all the support he can.

While you're attached to my staff,

you'll do all your communicating with toulebonne through me.

I repeat, through me. Question?

No, sir.

Egan, break out that chart we've been working on.

There'll be a slight delay. Admiral. This way, please.

We'll call this operation apple pie. Not because it's going to be easy,

but because we're going to slice this island into three big pieces.

Now, we're in this area, colonel Gregory. Could you parachute your raiders

without getting all tangled up in the jungle?

Well, right here, admiral, there's a Meadow,

- maybe a quarter of a mile square. - Good.

It'd have to be a low-level jump but it could be done.

When you land, you'll dig in and wait.

Well, the japs'll swarm in like flies, sir.

That's the whole idea, Paul.

They'll have to weaken their outer defenses to get at Gregory.

Mr. canfil, since this is your home, you must know

- this mountain area pretty well? - Yes, sir, I do.

Could we put a battalion across those peaks moving at night?

You could, if they didn't have to lug cannons with them.

There's a narrow pass there at about 6,000 feet. Yes, there.

- I'd have to lead them through. - You got yourself a job.

Paul, we'll mount a landing force and circle around and hit this beach,

just above voyan bay.

At the same time, we'll send a third group

on an end run through the foothills.

Three slices, all converging on colonel Gregory's position.

When we make contact, we will drive full force for the jap airstrip

and cut the supply line from voyan bay.

After that, it's just a matter of mopping up

isolated jap positions and gavabutu is secured.

- Mr. gottlieb? Weather. - Yes, sir?

Shaky. The rains are about to start, sir.

- When? - A week, maybe.

Then colonel Gregory'll jump on Sunday.

Calculate your timetable accordingly, Paul.

Aye, aye, sir.

All right, sir. I want all facts and figures by 0700 tomorrow morning.

- Right, sir. - Right.

There's just one thing, sir.

Admiral Broderick has only allowed us 10 planes.

Just a minute.

Commander owynn, lieutenant torrey... That's all.

Okay, Greg.

Sir, I can only put two-thirds of my paramarines in the air

unless we get at least five more transports.

Aren't there anymore r4ds in toulebonne?

- Yes, sir, but they're kept in reserve. - Reserve, for what?

It's the way admiral Broderick has things organized, sir.

What happens when an r4d conks out?

Toulebonne sends us a spare until we get it fixed.

- Five of them just conked out, colonel. - Let's relay the sad news to Broderick.

Mr. canfil, I'm afraid you've fallen in with thieves.

I think so, too, I'm happy to say, sir.

Thanks for getting me out of purgatory, rock.

Forget it.

Now,

where's the hospital?

I'll take you to her.

- Ms. dorne. - Captain eddington!

- Do you know where can we find Ms. haynes? - She's in there, admiral.

- Thank you, Ms. dorne. - Nurse!

Get out of my light.

Take him to hut 3.

If you'd waited till morning, I might've managed to look like something.

You look fine, Maggie, just fine.

- How do admirals feel about nurses? - The same way captains did.

Will there be time for us, out here? We'll make time here.

Canfil just sent a message. His battalion is on the hump

starting down the far side of the mountain.

Paul, pass the word to the amphibious group

- they can start moving in for landing. - Yes, sir.

Colonel, you got room in your plane for me?

Why, sure, sir, if you wanna take the risk.

- Sir. - Commander.

What, no admiral torrey?

Admiral torrey is with the paramarines, sir.

Well, that's very colorful of admiral torrey.

Gentlemen, there's a good story for your newspapers.

All right, Neal, let's go to headquarters and find out if our operation

is doing what we intended for it to do.

Stand up.

Hook up.

Check your equipment.

Stand in the door.

- Good luck, colonel. - Thank you, sir!

Let's go, men!

Contact our fighter protection, lieutenant.

I want two planes to cover us. The rest can head for home.

- May I ask what you plan to do, sir? - Let's say a sightseeing trip.

You got a pencil?

Thank you.

Now, we have named this operation apple pie.

The goal is, as you can see it,

is intended to cut the island into three slices,

one across the mountains, one from the beachhead here

and the other through these foothills,

all converging on a position we have already secured with our paramarines.

Admiral Broderick, have these correspondents

been instructed in security?

They'll be instructed, captain eddington. You may return to your duties.

Aye, aye, sir.

I'm sure you boys know the rules

and realize that you're not to file any stories

until commander owynn here gives you the word.

Now, back to operation apple pie.

Carry on.

Lieutenant, do you have any idea how Broderick knows these details?

I'm afraid not, sir.

You wouldn't know about owynn putting

special dispatches on the courier plane to toulebonne?

I wouldn't, sir.

Lieutenant, I don't know the situation between you and your father

but let me tell you this.

Bums like your friend owynn are with us always, like bad weather.

But sailors like your old man only happen once in a while.

I'm afraid I cannot accept your evaluation of commander owynn.

Well,

I'm afraid I cannot accept you as rock torrey's son.

I think somebody got in there ahead of him.

Now, wait a minute, eddington!

Captain eddington.

Yes?

It's all right, captain.

On your feet.

- Lieutenant! You can head for the barn. - Okay, sir!

Change of orders from the old man himself, by god.

Now, captain, we'll romp this circus straight on.

Last man to voyan bay's a bloody 'roo!

Sorry, chums, kangaroo to you.

Baker d, don't move in on road z-2, it's land-mined.

Admiral, this thing's moving so fast, we can't stay on top of it.

Sir, admiral Broderick wants you to meet with our war correspondents

from toulebonne headquarters.

I can't tell 'em anything now. Where's admiral Broderick?

Give him my respect. Say I'll join him as soon as I check in with my staff.

Roger, baker. D. Keep pushing. Out.

We've had some luck. Canfil should join Gregory within the hour.

Joined already. Cutting across to meet the amphibs.

Let me see those dispatches. Attention!

Carry on, gentlemen.

Well, admiral, we were getting anxious about you.

Very courageous, an operational commander going out on the firing line.

But a little risky leaving command center at zero hour, isn't it?

- I think it served its purpose, admiral. - I'm sure it did.

Shall we give the boys a rundown on the situation now?

Might be better if I gave you a rundown privately, sir.

Well, rock, the press is with us, they're not against us.

Let's give them a break.

- Well, if you insist. - Fire away, boys.

Admiral torrey, is the operation going according to schedule?

Not exactly.

I think we can be a little more specific than that, rock.

After all, gentlemen, an offensive doesn't exactly travel

like an express train.

Fact is, it's going to be a long, hard job kicking the enemy off gavabutu.

And I see no reason why we shouldn't admit it, rock.

We can project schedules, but they're hard to keep.

- Right, admiral? - Right, sir.

Except in this case, we're not behind schedule, sir.

- We're ahead of it. - Ahead?

Right now, our troops should be taking the jap airstrip

and our amphibs closing on voyan bay.

- But the enemy opposition... - There is no opposition, sir.

Seems that jap Garrison moved out last night.

- You mean, the island is ours? - Exactly.

- When did you learn this? - What was the reason for pulling out?

All right, gentlemen, all right.

- I think that about covers it for now. - That it does.

Wait a minute, admiral, we want to know something about this...

Admiral, I would appreciate if you check these dispatches

and give me your advice on how we should mop this thing up?

Yes, certainly.

Gentlemen, you can use the staff room to write your stories.

And I personally will see to it that your stories get out from here,

if commander owynn doesn't mind.

He crossed us. That bloody old man of yours crossed us.

Yes, didn't he!

Gentlemen.

Remind me, jer, you know, we must have a conference with the admiral

before he goes back to toulebonne in the morning.

Admiral Broderick's leaving already?

Yes, he feels everything is shipshape here.

Gottlieb, tuthill.

Heads.

Goodbye, commander. Enjoy it.

What do you suppose he meant by that?

- Well, aren't you going with Broderick? - No.

I think you are.

Now, wait, don't...

Now, I don't care how you do it,

but you better be on that plane with Broderick

unless you want to be buried on the island of gavabutu.

- Hey, you can't do this... - I am doing it.

We've got a job here and neither you nor Broderick

or anybody else is going to screw it up.

Understand?

And take this punk with you.

I'll have him court-martialed. Striking a fellow officer.

And you saw it, I didn't hit him back.

- I didn't see anything. - What do you mean you didn't see anything?

As far as I'm concerned, a coconut fell through the roof

and hit you on the mouth.

So you'd better figure out some excuse to get us on that plane with Broderick.

How'd you like to be transferred back to pt boats, fella?

"Cause one word from me to Broderick and you're on your way.

Say the word.

Well, here we are, gentlemen.

The marines are soaking their feet in voyan bay.

- The airstrip? - Our planes are landing on it.

This operation's picked cleaner than a chicken's neck.

Well, we're already trying to pick another one.

This one's a lot tougher. You're just in time to give us a hand.

- Right here. - Levu-vana.

We're not getting any satisfactory information

on the jap build-up. And our air photos don't show much.

We were wondering if your coast-watchers could give us a hand.

Why not have a submarine take me over there?

I know that island like a back of my hand.

Just give me a week or 10 days to creep up on our little yellow brothers

and I'll blueprint the jap positions for you.

We wouldn't want to lose you, Mr. canfil.

I don't plan to get lost, admiral.

Watch for my signal every night between midnight and 3:00.

Okay. Good luck.

Got a special reason for delivering the mail, lieutenant?

Sort of.

Okay. But don't let that special reason keep you too long.

Thanks.

Hello, marine.

- Been having any difficulty breathing? - No.

- Hi. - Hello.

Hello, jere! We heard you'd been transferred back to the boats.

Is that called for congratulations or commiserations?

- Congratulations, ma'am. - Good.

- You looking for the mail room? - Yeah, in a roundabout way.

- I'll show you where it is. - Thank you.

- Nice to see you again, ma'am. - Same to you, jere.

Come on, get over here. Come on.

Sir, there's no telling when we might ship together again,

and well, me and the boys, we took a vote.

We voted you the best officer to be marooned on a desert island with.

- Thanks, boats. - We really mean it, sir,

all kiddin' aside.

- Goodbye, culpepper. Goodbye, al. - Bye, sir.

Mac! Mac!

- They didn't tell me you were hurt. - It wasn't worth telling you.

- How'd you get here? - They flew me in from Pearl.

I've been waiting 10 days

for that damn slow boat of yours to come in.

God, you feel good to me.

I never gave you up, Mac, not for one minute.

Here. Here's a present for you, from bureau of personnel.

Lieutenant commander mcconnel. That's wonderful!

Wait a minute, does this mean that you've already been

given an assignment even before...

Flag secretary, third area.

Mac, back in that gavabutu hellhole.

With rock torrey this time, not Broderick. Torrey asked for me, bev.

But not right away!

- That wouldn't be fair. - No, not right away.

We've got 30 days survivors' leave.

- Got any ideas what to do with them? - Plenty of ideas!

I thought you wouldn't be seeing captain eddington again

now that you've made up with jere.

It's a picnic, Maggie, there's a whole bunch going.

- But you'll be with eddington? - Probably.

- You're not wearing jere's ring. - It's too big. I might lose it.

I see.

I'm going to tell captain eddington I'm engaged to jere.

Okay.

Maggie, I just wanna have a little fun.

Well, don't play games with eddington, baby.

I don't understand why don't you like him. He's torrey's best friend.

Instinct.

He's got something bottled up behind all that dashing charm.

- What? - I don't know.

But you better remember the smiling young lady from Niger.

- Who? - "The smiling young lady from Niger.

"She rode on the back of a tiger.

"And after the ride, she wound up inside

"with her smile on the face of the tiger."

Maggie! For heaven's sakes, I can take care of myself.

- Hey, Annie, you ready? - Just a sec!

- Who's the chaperone on this junket? - I am.

- Oh, brother! - I'll bring 'em back alive, mag.

- Come on, Annie, they're at the pier! - Bye, Maggie.

Have a good time.

The apple tree with anyone else but me

anyone else but me anyone else but me, no, no, no...

Hey, dorne!

Hey, don't you think we ought to go back?

Wouldn't want you to get in trouble with your chaperone.

With Sabrina? That's funny.

You're not afraid? Being out here all alone with me.

Scared to death.

- The water looks delicious. - Yeah, tide's out.

I'd love to go in for a dip.

- Go ahead. - But what would you think of me if I did?

Well, I'm an officer and a gentleman. I wouldn't think.

Would you turn your back until I get in?

This is Tokyo Rose.

We dedicate the next record fo all those poor marines and sailors on gavabutu.

You're going to be sacrificed because admiral torrey

doesn't have enough ships or planes to protect you.

But admiral torrey doesn't care whether you live...

- Why can't they jam that broadcast? - They don't want to.

The boys like the music. She doesn't scare anybody.

Although she comes pretty close to being right sometimes.

- Like now? - I said pretty close.

We can make out with what we have.

This is a backdoor operation, Maggie.

The front door is with general MacArthur.

That's where the jap Navy is occupied, not with us.

At least, that's the theory we have to go on.

- No sugar! - I'm sorry.

- Have you seen jere? - No.

I thought maybe you had. His boat's been running the mail.

He and annalee are on again. He's asked her to marry him after the war.

A cunliffe marry a commoner?

His name isn't cunliffe. It's torrey.

- Yeah. - It is, rock.

- What are you getting at, Maggie? - Nothing.

He's changed. He isn't just a smart college kid any longer.

Something's happened to him out here.

Well, I can't start acting like a father now.

I threw that opportunity away 18 years ago when I gave jere up to his mother.

I wouldn't know how to talk to him or...

Paull

will you bring my clothes down?

Just put them down and turn your back again.

Not this time, baby.

Paul, please!

No, you're gonna have to come and get 'em.

Okay, but you're gonna be surprised.

See? I might as well be in a mother Hubbard.

- Dorne, you're beautiful. - My clothes, please.

Paul, I'm not gonna let you kiss me.

I'm engaged. There's this boy...

Give me my clothes, please.

Paull

Paul, let me go!

Let me go!

No! Let me go! No!

Nol!

Let me go, Paul!

- Take her away. - Aye, aye, sir.

Take in your lines. Get underway.

Quarterdeck to signal bridge. Admiral's party approaching.

Good old swayback.

- She looks like a real lady. - She is a real lady.

It's a nice sentimental gesture,

cincpac sending you and Paul your old cruiser.

But an old battleship might've been a little more comforting.

I'm glad to see her anyway.

Egan, you just don't understand the love affairs

between ships and sailors.

What happened to your face, Paul? Bucking for a purple heart?

Just a friendly wound.

On deck. Intention fo board.

Bosun's mate, man the side.

Congratulations, Burke, on your new command.

Welcome home, admiral.

Looks like they've done a good job on her.

She's in fine shape, sir.

- Hello, captain. - Captain Burke, good to see you.

- Congratulations, colonel. - Tuthill, my operations officer.

Captain.

Shall we adjourn to the ward-room, admiral?

Attention, gentlemen!

At ease. Sit down, gentlemen.

We'll dispense with all formalities.

This will be my flagship in the coming operation.

Thank you, sir.

Right now, I'll turn you over to my chief of staff, captain eddington.

He'll lay out the plan of operation for you.

Well, what it boils down to is this. The japs have levu-vana.

We want it. They know it.

We're going to take it,

and they'll do their worst to keep us from taking it.

Now, we can't expect any outside help. We're it.

Mr. canfil. Excuse us, gentlemen.

I hope you don't mind my interrupting, admiral.

Sit down, Mr. canfil. We've been were worried about you.

I had a spot of bother getting back to the sub.

Nips are as thick as treacle pudding on that island.

Well, here it is, admiral, and you're not going to like it.

They're knocking together quite a welcome for you over at levu-vana.

They're stringing barbed wire on all the length of the beaches

and they're pouring concrete for pillboxes.

The airstrip's almost done.

They're building revetments for 200 planes.

Tanks bivouacked here and troops.

They're bringing in hundreds every night.

I'd estimate 5,000 landed in the time I was there.

Five thousand?

At that rate, we don't stand a chance inside of three weeks.

Well, that might not be the worst of it.

I was scrounging around close to a nip camp

and listened in on a sake party.

From what I could catch from their bloody gibberish,

there's a gathering of ships to the west at the nip's cape titan base.

- That could mean a task force? - It could.

Well, you could get a look-see at titan.

Our recon planes would get there all right but they couldn't get back.

I wonder if there's any chance of halsey's carriers

doing a reconnaissance job for us?

Not very soon. They're hitting the solomons for general MacArthur.

Best we can do then is head a sub that way for some offshore observation.

That's no good. It'd take a sub 10 days to get there.

If the japs are laying in a fleet at titan, we've got to know it now.

Hell, they could be getting ready to hit us here on gavabutu

before we ever kick off against levu-vana.

Can't you get long-range recon planes?

Captain Burke, you've just anchored on poverty row.

Everything's being pumped into MacArthur's area.

We get the leftovers, and that does not include long-range recon planes.

But we've got to get one, somehow, someway.

We can try.

Imperative that we get at least one long-range plane, and get it now.

Wet it with tears, bleed on it, egan.

- Darling, is that you? - Hi, honey.

Hey, where have you been?

You feel good.

I said, "where have you been?"

- I dropped over to treasure island. - For what?

- Just to visit with the Navy. - I bet that was fun.

- Hey! This looks nice. - Like?

You put it on, I'll take a quick shower and we'll go to the top of the Mark.

Mac, is anything wrong?

No, why?

You've got that kind of brainwashed look.

You've got bad news, Mac.

Tell me now.

If you wait to tell me about it over dinner, I'll cry in my soup.

Yes, I have orders.

- When? - They say proceed immediately.

Why?

We haven't even used up half of your leave yet.

They don't tell you why.

Something's going to happen on gavabutu soon.

Oh, hell! I'm gonna cry anyway!

Better?

I might not get you back this time.

Oh, honey...

Mac...

Leave me with a baby this time.

Please, Mac.

- 'Night, Maggie. - Good night, girls.

See you tomorrow.

Pat, get a doctor. Quick! What is it?

A doctor. Hurry!

Annalee...

Cincpac sends its regrets. They can't even spare

one lousy long-range plane.

What do we do now, commence skyhook anyway?

We've got to know what the japs are cooking up on titan.

Why don't we send a one-way plane, rock?

We can get there and radio the information back.

- What about the pilot? - He can ditch, a sub can pick him up...

Torrey, here... Maggie!

What?

I'll be right over, Maggie.

Egan, get me a Jeep with a driver.

What's wrong, rock?

A little nurse, friend of Maggie's,

she's committed suicide. “What?

She was engaged to my son.

When have you scheduled that staff conference?

0700.

We'll decide what to do then.

He raped her, rock.

And then when she was afraid she might be pregnant, she went to him and...

He didn't believe her.

Here, read this.

You said she left jere's ring with the envelope.

Shall I tell jere about...

No, I'll take him the ring.

I won't see you again for a while, Maggie.

- It's starting? - Very soon.

Captain eddington.

- Trot me out a pbj. - Sir?

- Now. - Yes, sir.

- Hey, you, dig me out a flying suit. - Aye, aye, sir.

Thanks.

What are you looking at, sailor? Get back to your radio set.

Thanks. Carry on.

Sir, how shall I log this flight?

Joyride for the chief of staff.

The ejector mechanism is jammed.

- Attention on the deck. - Carry on.

- Morning, sir. - Morning.

Sir, this is our skipper, lieutenant Mason.

How do you do, sir?

Mind if I borrow my son for a moment, lieutenant?

Of course not, sir.

I want you to get a hold of yourself.

That young nurse, ensign dorne... Yes?

She's dead.

Overdose of sleeping pills.

But why? Why?

Whatever the reason, she was thinking of you.

She left this ring for you.

I'm very sorry about that girl, jere.

Thank you for coming all the way over here, sir.

It's the least I can do for my...

One of my officers.

You know, this may not be the right time, but...

Somehow, it seems that between...

Well, there ought to be some...

I know what you mean, sir.

I wouldn't know how to say it myself, but I know what you mean.

- Goodbye, jere. - Goodbye.

The isallobaric gradient is changing rapidly.

And here, the increasing pressure is described by this isobaric curve,

which is forcing this low trough off to the east.

For the benefit of an ignorant old planter, commander,

what the hell does that all mean?

Our crummy weather's blowing out, and we're due for five days of sunshine.

Good-o!

- Where's eddington? - He hasn't come in yet.

- Please go find him, will you? - Is something the matter?

- Just go find him. - Right away.

Hello, Mac. When did you get in?

They ferried me over from toulebonne about an hour ago, sir.

- Welcome aboard. - I'm glad to see you again, sir.

Thank you. Where are we?

Rover, this is John Paul. Do you read me? Come in, rover.

Rover, this is John Paul. Acknowledge, over.

You mean you just gave him a plane without checking with operations?

Sir, captain eddington is chief of staff. Sir, he is operations.

Have you been in contact with him?

I've been trying to raise him for hours, sir.

It's for you, admiral.

Torrey speaking.

All right, egan, I'll be right over.

Mac.

Rover, this is John Paul. This is John Paul.

Are you on this frequency?

Rover, this is John Paul. Come in.

Okay, John Paul. This is rover. Do you read me? Over.

I'm answering you, John Paul. Do you read me? Over.

Rover, this is John Paul. Keep sending, I'm trying to pick you up.

Acknowledge, over.

I think we've got him, but he must be a long distance away.

Transmission's very weak.

Rover, this is John Paul. How do you hear me? Come in. Over.

- What's your last bearing? - 3-3-0, sir.

Plot that, will you, Mac?

This is John Paul. We've lost you. Keep sending, over.

John Paul, this is rover. Do you have me now?

Repeat. Do you have me now?

I can't keep him in, sir. He must be getting farther away.

He must be just southwest of cape titan.

Rover, this is John Paul. I can't hold you.

Change to secondary frequency, and I'll try to pick you up.

Rover to John Paul. Have you got me now?

- Acknowleage. - This is John Paul.

Roger, we're reading you, over.

I'm flying at 10,000 feet.

Coming up to cape titan from the southwest.

Do you read me? Over.

Rover, this is John Paul. We've got you clear. Over.

I can't see anything, John Paul, except a couple of sampans

and some gooney birds.

We'll be over cape titan in 40 minutes and...

Hold it, John Paul, hold it!

I've got something down here.

I'm dropping down from the cloud cover to take a closer look.

Stay with me, John Paul.

John Paul, this is rover.

It's a fleet, do you hear me?

Warships moving to the south, away from cape titan.

I count 16, no, 17 ships, do you hear me?

I repeat, 17 ships. Confirm, over.

This is John Paul. Roger, 17 ships. Over.

I seem to have some company up here.

Zeros from titan, I guess.

I'm going down to take a closer look at these ships. Stay with me, John Paul.

Looks like a screen of 12 destroyers. Repeat, 12 destroyers.

Four cruisers...

Can't tell if they're light or heavy.

The zeros want to play now.

Here.

Hello, rover. Hello, rover, this is John Paul.

Get back into those clouds.

Get back up in those clouds and stay there.

That pbj is no maich for zeros. Stay under cover.

Thanks, rock. But we've got to take a closer look at this big boy down here.

This is the biggest boy I've ever seen.

This thing looks like a bloody floating island.

It's four city blocks long and it's got 12 big guns.

They look like 18-inchers.

What was the name of that oversized tub the japs built a couple of years ago?

The yamato, wasn't it?

- This could be it! - The yamato, 80,000 tons.

- Do you hear me? Acknowledge. Over. - We read you, rover. We read you.

If this baby comes your way, look out!

Excuse me, John Paul, I'm gonna be a trifle busy.

Rover!

Rover. Come in, rover.

Paull

The yamato, four cruisers and 12 tin cans.

- That's a lot of firepower. - We can't be sure it's aimed at us.

They could simply be escorting the yamato to another base, truk or pelaki-shima.

They could be, but they're not. That task force is aimed for levu-vana.

That's right, egan.

It ties up with their maximum effort to defend that island.

They finish that airfield and put heavy bombers on it,

and they'll control the whole area.

Gavabutu will become untenable,

eventually we'll have to move out of toulebonne.

Skyhook in reverse.

That task force is headed this way.

Mac, gottlieb gave us five days of good weather?

Yes, sir.

What do you estimate the steaming time from titan to levu-vana?

They can't come over very fast.

They got to work their way through the straits.

Better part of four days.

With a little push, we can launch our amphib assault in 48 hours.

We can, but when we're covering the landing,

who takes care of this jap fleet?

Our ships will just have to do double duty.

Establish the beachhead,

then put back to sea and meet the new threat.

You think we have a chance to stop it?

We can try.

Sir, how shall I list captain eddington's flight?

- I have to account for the plane. - List it as an authorized mission.

Do you wanna make a recommendation

for captain eddington and the flight report?

What he did deserves a medal of honor, rock.

Maybe, but Paul wasn't hunting medals.

No, no recommendation.

- Anything new on the jap fleet? - Nothing, a blank.

- Maybe they're not headed this way. - Let's keep reconnaissance busy anyway.

They're not going round the outer islands, admiral.

That's why we couldn't find them. They're headed for pala passage.

What's more, it looks like they mean to run it at night.

Is that possible with a fleet of that size?

Some of those waters are uncharted shoals.

Well, the Japanese Navy has a bad habit of doing the impossible.

How wide is the narrowest part of the straits?

Twenty miles.

- But only 10 miles show a deep channel. - I want those 10 miles mined.

Mines won't stop the yamato. She carries a 16-inch armor plate.

I know, but we might nail two or three of the escort vessels.

And tut, send the pt boats with the mine-layer.

They're maneuverable in the shoal waters.

They might get their licks in

while the japs are tangled up in the mines.

Rock...

In the morning...

What's it like,

a surface battle?

Like any other battle, I guess. Maybe a little noisier.

I'm so scared, my bones are clicking,

like dice on a Reno crap table.

I should be back in Hollywood, sitting in front of a typewriter,

making all this up for a movie.

Not living it.

All battles are fought by scared men who'd rather be someplace else.

Does that include admirals?

Yes.

Admiral, another 30 minutes and they tangle with the minefield.

Jere.

Loosen up, jere.

Skipper, if I let you down, will you please shoot me?

Surel

Doin' real good out there on the minefield.

Here we go!

Skipper!

Take over the helm! Go on!

Stand by to torpedo!

Roll onel

Roll two!

We got 'em! We got 'em again!

Plot... Roger, give it to me. First reports, admiral.

Two destroyers hit by mines.

One destroyer torpedoed by boats.

What? Repeat.

One mogami-class cruiser hit and dead in the water, sir!

By god, that's cutting 'em down to size!

- Casualty report? - Do you have anything on casualties?

Not yet, sir.

Casualty report on the pt boats, rock.

Signal all destroyers,

- "lay smokescreen and attack." - This is plot...

Go, babies, go!

Stand by to commence firing.

All guns. Three rounds rapid-fire salvo...

Now!

Fire!

The yamato came through.

Signal all ships to make flank speed. Steer evasive course as planned.

You're wanted in plot.

She's getting outta range!

Signal a 50-degree turn to starboard.

Signal a 50-degree turn to port.

All guns to fire at the turn.

Bridge! Bridge!

Bridge... the captain's dead.

They're all dead.

- What do I do, sir? - Stand by.

Carry on. I'm taking over the bridge. I'll pass you the course and speed.

- Mac! - I'm with you, sir!

Sir! Sir!

Get up, sir! The ship is breaking up, sir!

Abandon ship! Abandon ship!

Nurse...

Nurse...

Maggie, he spoke! He said "nurse"!

Rock?

- Can you hear me, rock? - Maggie.

- Where... - You're on a hospital ship

bound for Pearl harbor.

Better let me do the talking. You've been asleep a long time, almost three weeks.

You were badly wounded. Shell fragments.

But you're going to be all right.

What's that tent for?

That's the worst of it, rock.

You've lost your left leg.

Egan?

Egan was killed.

Tuthill?

All of them. Except Mac mcconnel.

He saved your life. He got you into the water and on a life raft

before the ship went down.

He's here. You can see him tomorrow.

- I've got to know... - Tomorrow.

Tomorrow.

- Your hands. - Burns, sir, but they'll be okay.

Thanks for looking after me, Mac.

Actually, sir, some of the crew looked after both of us

until a tin can picked us up.

- Gregory... beachhead... wiped out? - No, sir.

But the last report, they had the japs boxed up on the north end of the island.

The yamato didn't come on, it turned around

and hightailed it back to the passage.

Why? We were licked, weren't we?

- Good morning, sir. - Stand easy.

You're a hard man to kill, aren't you, admiral?

Seems so, sir.

I managed to get my command shot to hell without any trouble.

Feel you betrayed them by staying alive?

Something like that.

Seven ships sacrificed.

It'll make a fancy court-martial.

- He's still doped up? - A little, sir.

Let me straighten you out, admiral.

Skyhook's on its way and the japs can't stop it now.

I'm having you flown back to the states, but not for court-martial.

They'll stick a peg leg on you and ship you back to me.

And you're gonna stump your way to Tokyo right along the rest of us.

You're gonna do it from the deck of a ship in command of a task force.

Is that clear?

- Yes, sir. - Then go back to sleep.

Aye, aye, sir.

You've got your orders. Go to sleep.

Maggie?

I'll be here, rock.