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Fire Down Below (1957)
Hey, Tony?
- A friendly word? - What? If youd been more flexible with that lady... ...shed have kept on hiring this boat at 100 bucks a day tI'll next Christmas. - StI'll not too late, you know. - No. - All I said was 'fflexible. "' - I'mm not in that line of business. I have to be cursed with a fastidious partner? Youll keep me a poor man all my life. If youre so anxious, why don't you do something about it yourself. Dont think I wouldn't if I thought it would work, man. The lady just aint interested. Whats she gonna do with a beat-up old bum like me? Shes blond, she's pretty, comes from a good family... ...and shes got a rich husband. She wants only the best. Tall, blue-eyed, straight-limbed boys with curly hair and pearly teeth. If you played your cards right, we could have had a new cabin cruiser... - ... by the time she left. - Stop dreaming. But youre driving us to a life of crime. Okay, lets not waste any time about it. That lady sure was icy. Yeah, but just not icy enough, Jimmy Jean. Not icy enough. Well, on to crime. Next time we smuggle anything onto this island, we ought to wear tuxedos. What wI'll it be? - Brandy. - Beer. Theres Miguel. You have to walk right up to the bar? Make yourselves conspicuous like two elephants in a ballroom? Do you find it impossible to wear jackets? Miguel, be polite to your colleagues. - Its all delivered? - All delivered. A friend left this note for you. Our friend didnt have much to say, did he? - What do you mean by that? - I mean, he wasnt very generous. There are many expenses, you know that as well as I do. Palms to be greased and people paid to turn the other way. Tell our friend if he cant be more communicative, this is the last trip. - Come on, Tony... - Please take your money. This drinks on the house. - My heart is softened. - Listen... ...I can put a little easy money your way. - How easy? - Without so many questions. Do you or dont you want to make some money? No. I'll talk to you, you'rre reasonable. Your friend is a barbarian. Youll sit here and hear your friend called a barbarian? Miguel, I forbid you to call this barbarian a barbarian. Youre a true friend. Once again, I'll disregard the jokes. I'mm talking of a small act of kindness. All you have to do is take a passenger from here to Santa Nada. The American line runs a good boat. Tell him to try the American line. Youre so clever and so rich. It isn't a him. - Her. - A woman on a little boat like ours? You dont think she'd find it a trifle restrictive? She cant afford to worry whether it's restrictive. - Police? - I know nothing of police. Im trying to compose myself. Theres a rich American patron making inquiries for her... ...and with infinite generosity, I thought of you. And Im rewarded with contempt. - Yeah, how rich an American? - I have not asked to see his tax return. Lets get out of here. I don't like the smell of this. - Money doesnt smell. - How much? - Five hundred dollars. - And for you? Me, I merely seek to oblige a friend. Yeah, but how many dollars do you seek to oblige yourself, 1000? Thats enough. You demean me. Leave my bar. Five hundred has a nice, wholesome ring to it, doesnt it, 500? Yeah, 700 rings even better. Its too risky. A couple of cases of brandy or cigarettes, thats one thing... ...but an I'llegal dame... If they catch us, theyll take the boat, lock us up and throw the key away. They wont catch us. Ive got a hunch. I don't feel so lucky. I feel lucky. Well use my luck. The markets rising. My last offer, 600. Im disgusted. Well, be disgusted for 700. Very well. Wait here. Two boys in caps at the end of the bar. - Shes not impressed. - I am. - I dont like this. Let's get out of here. - Wait. Nobody's fired a shot yet. - Ask if theyll have a drink with me. - Sure. The gentleman invites you to his table for a drink. Is it beyond the limits of possibility to take off your hats? You make too many conditions. Im changing my mind. Youre driving me mad, authentically mad. Now, let him suffer, Felix. Come on. Here they are. Wont you sit down? Have a drink? - Brandy. - Beer. Did Miguel explain the situation to you? Yeah, a little. - Not enough. - How much do you have to know? Everything. Slipping passengers past Immigrations is no joke. Tell them everything they want to know. Incidentally, how much money was mentioned? Twelve hundred dollars. Well, some days you win, some days you lose. I think theyre calling for me at the bar. The lady a relation? No. A friend. - And she has no papers, huh? - No. No papers, no passport, nothing. Shes stateless. Its a long, confused story. I imagine we could spend a number of long, confused months in prison. Why no papers? - Irena, maybe you had better... - I'll tell you all that's necessary. Im coming from nowhere I'llegally. Im on my way to nowhere equally I'llegally. - Are you satisfied? - No. - Theres no need for you to... - Don't be delicate about my dignity. - Tell him what he wants to know. - Come on over to the bar. Where did you meet her? Here, about a month ago. I feel sorry for her. I want to help. - Yeah, whered she come from? - Havana. Oh, another rich friend? I guess so. - And before that? - Florida. Some Army sergeant smuggled her over from Europe in a bomber. Naturally, they caught up with him. She moved on. Speaks awful good English. Shes been around Americans for 10 years. This stuff is kI'lling me. Look, this is the picture. She came originally from Lithuania... ...or Estonia or someplace. The story changes. The Germans transported her to Berlin. mother, father, brothers, the usual. She got mixed up in the black market. There was a holdup. The police say she had a gun. She swears she didnt. It was a frame-up, she says. And so far, shes always managed to find somebody to take care of her. I dont doubt that. Look, I want to do all I can for her, but Ive got to get back to Detroit. Twelve hundred bucks, take it or leave it, thats all. Actually, I dont... I dont like it. What have we got to lose? Now, you know, I do not make Immigration officers very happy. An Immigration officer presumes that a woman who looks like me... ...should be kept. And they prefer citizens of other countries to do the keeping. You understand, Irena, that this is not the Queen Mary? There wI'll be no steward aboard to bring you your morning tea. Ive put up with worse. Youll be alone on a not very large boat with three men... ...with low, brutish manners. - One man with low, brutish manners. - All right. Twelve hundred dollars. A thousand for us, 200 for him. You know No. 3 Pier by San Antonio? - I can find it. - Okay. Be there at sunup. Come on, lets go. Im sorry, Irena. Sometimes you wonder what God had in mind... ...when he invented the male sex. Well... ...hello there. If I knew you were wearing your Paris clothes... ...Id have had the bridal suite cleaned up. Sun lounge is on A-deck. What happened to your gentleman friend? I left him in the hotel. Any other questions? I might think of some from time to time. WI'll you do me a favor? Occupy yourself with your own business. I dont think I'mm going to care for your attitude very much. All right. I dont think I even care for my attitude very much. Yeah, well, I'll... ...show you where you can keep your things. Well, its nothing much... - ... but if theres anything you want... - I don't want anything. That port engine again. Its that port engine again. Lets see what we can do with it. You know, when I get rich, Im going to buy myself a crowbar... ...and come aboard this boat and beat that port engine to scrap. I hung around the house for three months... ...after I got back from Korea, doing nothing. And my father read me the riot act. Hes a big man in the community, my father. Said it gave him a bad name, having a son who was turning into a bum. So I went to New York and met a guy I used to know there... ...went to college with. He had a 30-foot sloop. He was looking to take someone to the Caribbean... ...so we had a drink, and I signed on. - Just like that? - Just like that. The Caribbean seemed like a nice, long distance from Indiana. Came down here and I liked it, and my pal went home. I met Felix. We had some laughs. He had a little money, I had dough... ...and one night we were drunk, and we bought this boat. When it runs, its a pretty good little boat. - Two and a half years? - Yep. Cant think of a better way to spend two and a half years. - What happens when you tire of this? - Well, I'll move on. I told my father the day I saw the first white hair on my head... ...Id come back home. It hasn't shown yet. What a country America is. All the luxuries. - Even rebellion. - I got an idea. Hey, Felix? How much longer we gonna be here? Seven years and two months. Good, weve got time for a swim. How about it? - Arent there any sharks? - Well, of course. Why not? - Everybody works but Father. - Thats right. That's the general idea. Do the guests have everything they want? Cocktails? - Just ring the bell. - No cocktails. Ask the lady. No cocktails. I was glad to see you swim so well. Its a pretty sight, you handsome young people... ...cleaving through the warm water with a nice, steady, eight-beat crawl. Where did you learn? Berlin? What do they use in those swimming pools, blood? Wait a minute. What is this? Whats it for, persecution or fun? - For fun. - Well, youre crazy. Leave her alone. Whats the matter, you appointed yourself her new protector? Go to the end of the line, kid. Its a long, long line. - Let up on her. - She doesnt need protection. She can take care of herself with any weapon youd care to mention. Ask the MPs name in Berlin. Ask about the gun they found in her bag. I dont know what's wrong with him. I'vve never seen him like this before. Dont worry. It wI'll blow over. No guns allowed on this boat, madam. We have a naval limitation treaty with the Algonquin Indians. Youre crazy. Anything you don't like, you just throw into the sea! I turn the other cheek. Careful, Ive only got two cheeks. Why dont you stop them. Not for the time being, maam. Ain't no quarrel of mine. I'll let them work off a little bad blood first. Hell kI'll him! Stop it. Stop it! Now you just calm down a little, then we all stop choking our friends... ...and we continue this cruise on a nice, peaceful basis. All right, Jimmy Jean, you can let go. The wars over. - Is that a promise? - Thats a promise. See? A thousand dollars for carrying you just isnt enough. - Im sorry. - You play rough, don't you? For a minute, I thought you were trying to kI'll me. Dont be sI'lly. All over? All over. We ought to do this more often. Breaks up the trip, entertainment for the ladies. Greco-Roman style wrestling, college rules. Any time we get bored with each other... ...I'll just remember to throw something of madame's in the sea. Whats going on there? Carnival time. - Mardi gras. You ever been to one? - No. - Well, do you like to dance? - Sometimes. Well, how about that. Do you want to go take a look at it? No. Come on, I'll take care of you. You wont get mixed up in anything you don't want. Perhaps some other time. We dont guarantee there wI'll be another time, lady. This is a luxury cruise, but we only furnish one Mardi gras per trip. Yeah, come on, lets go. These things can be fun, you know. Whatever you say. You want to go, Felix? I have to be in the mood for a Mardi gras. I'll see how I feel when we dock. Irena? Irena? I cant stand waifs. Come on. You hate me. Why? - Drink your rum. - What have women done to you? I dont regard women in the plural. I regard women one by one. What have they done to you? Some of them have done good, some of them have done bad. Drink your rum. - Have you ever been married? - Yes. - For a quick six months. - What happened? I deserted her. Why? She was the most desertable woman on the North American continent. She was pretty. Beautiful. Maybe even as beautiful as you. I had a wonderful time with her. Six months. - TI'll I got to know her. - Is that why you came down here? - Thats one of the reasons, yeah. - Are you wanted by the police? Oh, I wouldnt go so far as to say that. Put it this way, if I presented myself to the police, they would not reject me. No, no, none of that. Lets not fool ourselves. Lets not sit laughing it up like two nice people out on a date... ...on a Saturday night. Were not nice people. And were not out on any date. Youre a tricky bit of cargo... ...that I contracted to carry from one island to another. A danger to navigation. Lets keep the channel clear. Dont worry about me. I'vve had enough trouble as it is. I'll bet you have. Im not asking for any pity. I don't want to bother you. Youre stuck with me for a little while, and I'mm stuck with you. But we dont have to make it any worse than it already is. Tell me what you want me to do, and I'll do it. Keep away from Tony, thats all. He's not for the likes of you. - Why not? - Ive known women like you. Youve had bad luck. Youre pretty enough to make everybody you touch pay for it. What makes you think hed be interested? I saw that gay frolic on the beach today. A siren should have gone off for Tony right then: 'EEnemy approaching, take cover. "' Hes a big boy. He can take care of himself. Nobody can take care of themselves, so stay away from him. Stop probing him with those sad, pitiful, calculating dark eyes... ...and keep those sweet, poisonous hands off him. Youve got nothing for him. He came down here to sow a few wild oats, thats all. - What about you? - I sowed my wild oats a long time ago. Been living off the crop ever since, not very nourishing. And if youve got any ideas about me, forget them. You stick to the kind of men women like you were made for. That nervous fella from Detroit back there in San Juan. The Russian colonels in Berlin, the black-market sergeants. No, I do you an injustice. Youre a field-grade operator, black-market generals. Theres plenty of the usual game for you around here. Lots of sugar planters with fat bellies, rum factories... ...wives with mustaches... ...bank accounts in Havana, New York, Zurich. Stick to them. Leave Tony alone. I beg your pardon, would the lady like to dance? No, the lady would not like to dance. On the contrary, the lady would like very much to dance. That was wonderful. Was it? I beg your pardon, would you like a dance? - Get out of here. - I was talking to the lady. I was asking her to dance. Its a very simple dance. I'lll show you. You want to dance, huh? Come on, I'll dance you. Whos there? Its me, Felix. That's Latin for "'hhappy. "' You should have danced with that fella. He was a real good dancer. What is it? What are you waiting for? Im waiting for someone to touch me with kindness. Im proud. I don't make love to the dead. Oh, youre beautiful. Marry me, and well sail the seven seas. And well see the tombs of the Pharaohs. And well pull in at Hong Kong and Bangkok... ...and Indianapolis, Indiana. And I'll be faithful to you from here to the last distI'llery. And I'll cover you with jewels, and I'lll drown you in champagne. Our song. Shall we dance? Do you mind if I have a drink? You have to go now because your family is calling you... ...but I'll be waiting. All right. Here we are in the Rose Bowl, folks! And hes fading back. He's looking for his receiver! Hes gonna pass. 100,000 people are going wild out there. Last two minutes of the game. Hes gonna pass! Hes getting ready. He's set. He's found his receiver. He'lll pass! And there he goes down the field, and hes getting ready to catch it! There it goes, 10 yards, 20 yards, 30 yards! He caught it! Oh, great show. Irena? Irena? Yes? Everything okay? Yes. Well, can I get you anything? No, thank you. Good night. Good night. Well, this is far as we take you. At the end of the jetty, youll see some stairs. At the very top by a church, youll see a taxi. You go to the American bar on the Rue Joliette. The barman wI'll tell you where to find the hotel. If you happen to see any of us around... ...it might be advisable for you to pretend you dont know us. We cant just drop her like this in the middle of this forsaken hole. Why not? That was the bargain, wasnt it? We were to take her to Santa Nada, responsibility ended. You do have a mean streak, dont you? I said Id bring her here and I did. What's so mean? Somebody has to see the girl into the town. You defeat me. I dont know what you'rre aiming at! You trying to get chosen for the Brute of the Month Club or something? - Joke. Push off, Jimmy Jean. - No, hold it. Youre on your own from now on. I'll leave my stuff on the boat. I'lll pick it up later. Push off. Its not what you might call a happy voyage. No, sir, Ive had happier trips. - Youre not satisfied? - When I'mm paid off, I'lll be satisfied. Any other complaints? - I might strike some. - You want to quit? I do believe I do. Okay, thats fine with me. We could stand some fresh faces around here. - You didnt have to come with me. - Forget it. I apologize for Felix. Nobody has to apologize to me for anything. I apologize for the whole human race. - Good evening, madam. - Good evening. - Are there any messages? - The young man called. The young American. Hell be here at 7, he says. Thank you. My key, please. I would not be a friend if I didnt tell you your presence... ...for the last few days has not gone completely unremarked. - What do you mean? - Its, of course, not surprising. A woman who looks like you even in a great city... ...Paris even, all eyes would be attracted. Omit the flowers, who was talking about me? In a place like this, there are certain people who owe things to the police. Who must present the authorities with information... ...of an interesting character. Now, they see a lady like you arrive, they make a few inquiries. They find that your arrival did not coincide with the landing of a plane... ...the docking of a steamer. They discovered that you seem to be settling down for a long stay. That you have no visible means of support. That you are friendly with a young American... ...of a rather brash and reckless character. They begin to see some making of profit in this situation for themselves. Why are you telling me all this? None of this, of course, is crucial. The right words spoken at a certain place. A delicate hint that too much curiosity is a bit improper in this case. A genial reminder that the lady in question is regarded benevolently... - ... by a good friend of the authority. - Yes? I dont like to sound immodest... ...but I, myself, might answer to such a description. If it were to my interest, perhaps I could be prevailed upon... ...to drop a word in a proper quarter. If it were to your interest? If it were to my interest. Your key, madam. Yes? Hi. - Hello, Tony. - Got something for you. Thank you. - Tony... - Well, open it up, open it. Native blouse, see. I just thought with your color hair that it might... - Its very gay, isn't it? - Very gay. Go ahead, try it on. I wasnt too sure about the measurements. But go ahead, try it on. The lady in the shop says its bound to have a stifling effect on a redhead. Tony? - Have you seen Felix? - Only once, in the bar for a minute. All we said was hello. Hes conducting a personal experiment. Hes trying to drink the entire output of rum on this island in a week. Did he say anything about me? He was in no condition to say anything about anybody. Startling. - Thank you. - You like it? I like it very much. StI'll it would have been more useful if youd found something else. A different kind of cloth. Do they have anything in the shops... ...thats guaranteed to make a woman invisible? What a waste that would be. Come on, lets go out. We'lll have a great dinner and dance, celebrate. Celebrate what? Celebrate the fact that youre not invisible. - Not tonight, Tony. - Whats the matter? - Ive got to get out of here. - What are you talking about? The owner. Its the same old thing. Sometimes it takes only a day. Sometimes, like now, it takes more than a week. - But it always happens. - What always happens? They close in. 'Keep moving. "' Did that slob tell you you had to get out of here? No, they dont quite say that either. They always make it clear I could make arrangements... ...and be permitted to stay. - Im tired of those arrangements. - What did he say to you exactly? He said Im conspicuous. The authorities have begun to show an interest in me. Where I came from, what Im doing here. And that he could put in a good word for me if I made it worth his while. - I'll beat his head in. - What good would that do? It would only bring the police down that much sooner. Forget it. Forget me. I always get by somehow. As your friend Felix would say, Ive become an expert at getting by. Well you better start teaching me some of the tricks. - What do you mean? - Were gonna get by together now. 'RRomantic young American anxious to ruin his life. - WI'll accept any unreasonable offer. ' - WI'll you marry me? What good would that do? I dont know about you, it would do me a lot of good. And then what? Think theyll leave me alone because you married me? Well, if they dont, we'lll move on. Have you an unlimited island supply? Youll need it. Not necessarily, well be able to settle somewhere. - Where? - Well, here, Cuba, Venezuela. Venezuelas hopping now. Or Mexico, finally the States. - Dreams. - Theyre not such dreams. It can be arranged. Theres papers you can get if you know people. Nine times out of 10 they may not be perfect papers, but theyll pass. You just need a little money. - A little money? - All right, then, a lot of money. And then whatll you do? Write to your father in Indiana? And whatll you say? 'dear Father, please send me $ 10,000 airmail. I want to buy the future of a lady in trouble with the police'? I can see him rushing to his bank soon as he gets the letter. - Daddy isnt the answer. - Who is? - I'll find... - Why are you saying this, out of pity? If I was going to pity anybody, Id pity myself if I lost you. You dont know me. Go to Felix. Ask him to give you his lecture... ...on the subject of women like me. - Then see what you have to say. - I dont need any lecture from Felix. Im no good. I'mm all worn-out. Ive been passed from hand to hand. Ive had to submit to things nice young American boys... ...couldnt conceive of in their wildest nightmares. Ive lived among the ruins. Armies have marched over me. Armies. Ive been debased. I look in the mirror and I say, 'What a lie. "' At the first glance, the face looks like the face of a human being. A wonderful face. Inside a year, youll get to hate it. Youll look at it, and you'lll remember everything behind it. No, I'll look at it, and I'lll think how beautiful it is. If I remember anything, itll be how you looked... ...sitting on the pier, waiting for us. Brave, quiet, shining, ready to defend yourself. In a while, youll forget everything before that morning. I guarantee it. What a wonderful thing it is to be an American. You believe you can forget everything. Irena. Hi. Welcome. Hang around. Next number on the program is the Beethoven Ninth. Yeah, I want to talk to you. Ive got a date to a cockfight in 10 minutes. If you leave your name with the secretary... - ... she might arrange something later. - I have to talk to you, Felix. - Have a drink. - I dont want anything to drink. You want to listen to a medical fact? In this climate, sobriety kI'lls more people per year... ...than heart trouble, motor accidents or crimes of passion combined. - Stop being so gay. Im serious. - Gay, me? Im so sad that little dogs howl in despair when they see me. I have a proposition to make to you, Felix. To passengers. To tall, long-legged, dark-eyed passengers. I want one more trip with you in that boat. A big one. Miguels got something for us. No more passengers. Ive discovered I'mm a freight carrier at heart. I'mm gauche. I dont know how to mingle with passengers. Dont worry, it's only freight, but they'rre in a hurry. Theyre wI'lling to pay. One more trip and then what? Then well sell the boat, and we'lll split the proceeds and go alone. - Alone? - Not quite alone. - Not quite alone? - Im gonna marry her, Felix. Of course. Shes no good. She'lll cheat you, she'lll pull you down. Everywhere you go, youll find men who look at you and laugh... ...and say, 'GGet a load of what our old friend Irena's gotten ahold of now. "' Shell ruin you. When she gets a better offer, she'lll leave you. So naturally, youre gonna marry her. I made up my mind before I came I wasnt gonna hit you. I see shes got you domesticated already. In order to start this marriage on the right foot... ...we want to make a little trip, do we? Well, you take it yourself. Im gonna stay right here and listen to the music. Go ahead. You dont need me. You know the way. You get ahold of Jimmy Jean and go sailing off on the calm, blue water. Go ahead, consider it a gift, a wedding present. The use of the boat by yourself and all the proceeds. Consider it a dowry for the bride. - You dont want to go? - Nope. Well split it down the middle. You get your share. I dont want it. I'mm gonna stay here... ...and see if I can find a buyer for the boat. I was getting tired of that boat anyway, that port engine. Port engine was wearing me down. - When are you leaving? - Tomorrow night. - Give my best to Miguel. - Yeah, what if something goes wrong? Nothing wI'll go wrong. The usual arrangements. Two lights wI'll be showing. If anything has gone wrong, there wont be any lights. Good luck. Tony. Tony, were ready. - Let me come with you. - Are you crazy? After all of the trouble we had getting you out of there? - I dont want to be left alone. - It's only six days. Three days out and three days in. Its nothing. - I dont want to be left alone anymore. - Only six days more. Then I'll never leave you alone again, I promise. There they are. Ahoy! Ahoy, there. Heave to! - Coast Guard! - They were laying for us. Heave to! - Somebody must have tipped them off. - Heave to! - What you doing? - Im gonna beach her. Coast Guard coming alongside. Youll never make it, Tony. We want to inspect your cargo and see your papers! Ahoy! Heave to, or we wI'll fire! - Tony, Im waiting on you. - It's a long swim in. Its a long time in the jug. Come on, lets get out of here. Make that fast. Wed better separate from now on. If you get back before I do, you do one thing for me, Jimmy Jean. You tell Felix Im coming after him, you got that? Heres a letter for you, Jimmy Jean. Tony. 'JJimmy Jean, keep this to yourself. Im on my way back, just shipped aboard a Greek tug, the Ulysses. We ought to arrive in about 10 days. Im going to need your help. Watch for me. Tony. "' Dr. Sam, this is Franois. Can you hear me, Sam? Hello? - Yes? - I say, this is Franois. Theres been an accident. There was this collision... - ... between a freighter and a liner. - A collision? - The freighter was coming into port. - Coming into port? I waited until I got all possible details before I called you. - How many hurt? - They asked me to bring a doctor. - Can you hear me, Sam? - I'll be right down. So during the fog, there was this little collision during the night. The liner was hardly damaged and didnt turn back. But the freighter is limping into port, the S.S. Ulysses. How many people are hurt? The radiogram only mentioned one, a sailor. Hes jammed up in the bow, and they can't get him out. Oh, well, if a man signs up to be a sailor... ...he must expect little inconveniences like that from time to time. Hello. Here comes the fog. Hey, look out! At last. Finally. - I'll write such a report! - Where is he? In case youre not familiar with maritime law... - ...I shall clearly state in that report... - Yes, you do that, captain. - Where is he? - Where is who? The injured man. Where would he be? Forward, in that hold. - Caught like a weasel in a trap. - Show us how to get to him. Hes down that hatch, but let me warn you, this is dangerous. Everythings loose, liable to come down at any moment. - Youll have to creep on your belly. - Stop wasting my time. Its at your own risk. I take no responsibility! Hey! Youll need this. Welcome, boys. This way, Sam. Can I offer you boys a drink? - This is the doctor. Are you hurt? - I dont know. You tell me, doc. You dont look so bad. You ought to see me when I dont need a shave. - Does anything feel broken? - No. Can you move your toes? I dont know. I can't feel them anymore. They wiggle. There doesnt seem to be anything broken. You wont be able to go to any dances for a little while. I had no appointments. - What happened? - I was checking the cargo... ...and all of a sudden the roof fell in. Iron started raining down like rice at a wedding. Something conked me in the head, and I passed out. Came to, here I was, locked up for being a bad boy. I dont need a doctor, I need a wrecking crew. Well be in port in two hours. We'lll get you out in no time. Dont make any sudden moves, because the furniture is fragile. Theres genuine antiques. - Whats your name? - Tony... - ... Hackenhausen. - Whats that, a German name? Yeah, Im the scion of an old Bavarian family. Is there anybody you want us to notify? No, nobody. - Youre sure? - Yeah, I'mm sure. My folks all got wiped out in the war. The Hundred Years War. Is there anything we can do for you now? Yeah, tell the boys Im hungry. And I'd love a bottle of beer. Maybe they could rig a light up here. Im an only child. I'mm afraid of the dark. Okay, Tony. - I'll be back. - I'lll be waiting. You better keep the torch. Yeah. - Well? - Hes all right. Let me use your radio, captain. I want to have some people standing by with equipment. Well try and get him out as soon as we get into port. By all means. And while youre at it... ...ask the fire department to be there waiting for us too. - What do you mean? - Take a good deep breath. - Smell anything? - Somethings burning? Its in the aft hold. Come with me. The collision started something. Sparks. Spontaneous combustion. - What have you got in there, captain? - Rubber. Raw rubber! Id better get that radio off right now. I'lll be back in a moment, Sam. What a night. Six hours out of port, and this had to happen. Captain, this boy whos caught up forward... ...he says his names Hackenhausen. If he says his name is Hackenhausen, then his name is Hackenhausen. - He says hes German. - The world's full of Germans. - He speaks English like an American. - He has a talent for languages. - The Germans are clever people. - Did you see his papers? He said he had lost his papers. Id like to see his bunk, if I may, captain. Its all the same to me. It's right in there, in the far corner on top. Thanks. - What do you think, Franois? - The poor devil. WI'll they be able to get him out? Theres an American Navy repair ship in port. I radioed to get hold of them. And the fire department is standing by. What do you think, Franois? WI'll they get him out? Maybe. If anybody can get him out, they wI'll. Maybe not all in one piece, but theyll get him out. - How are things, Franois? - The American Navy is at work. - What do they say? - They dont say anything. They just whistle through their teeth and call for Coca-Colas. - Are they putting out the fire? - It is a fire of raw rubber, monsieur. One does not put out a fire of raw rubber. Sometimes with luck, with a great deal of luck... ...one puts such a fire under control. - Infrequently. - Whats the matter with him? Hes an important man, and an unpleasant decision faces him. Therefore, he must try and make others feel as unpleasant as he does. - Whats the decision? - The decision. To keep the fire under control... ...he has to pour ton after ton of water into the hold. Now, if he pours in enough... ...at a certain moment, the Ulysses wI'll capsize and sink. When that happens, he wI'll lose his job, and so wI'll I... ...because we permitted the ship to sink alongside a dock. And well deserve to lose our jobs... ...because it wI'll put the dock out of commission for at least, oh, a year. To say nothing of the money it wI'll cost... ...to float it again and get it out of the way. To say nothing of the man in there who wI'll sink with it. To say nothing. But if he does not put enough water into the hold... ...to keep the fire under control, the fire wI'll spread. In the very next hold, weve just discovered a charming fact. There is a load of nitrates. Eighty tons of nitrates. If the fire were to reach the 80 tons of nitrates, there goes the Ulysses. And there goes, perhaps, half the harbor facilities of this port. To say nothing of the man in the bow. To say nothing. Do you wonder that the captain is a little snappish? No, but the American Navy must have said something. Ask the American Navy yourself. Here it comes. Lt. Sellers, permit me to introduce our port doctor, Sam Blake. - How do you do, doctor? - How does it look, lieutenant? Great. Were putting in some hydraulic jacks. If they hold, well get him out by tonight. - And if they dont hold? - Kindly notify next of kin. - See you later, sir. - Right. Hows the boy? Sitting down there, playing the harmonica. He plays real nice, that boy. Lieutenant! - Were just about ready to try it now. - Okay, I'lll be right down. - You want to come along? - Think I'll be of any use? - I sure do. - Thanks. If anything goes wrong, youre gonna have a lot of customers, doc. Boatswain, whats up with the forward hold? Get those grapplings undone on the double. Hows it going, Mac? - Be ready in a few minutes, lieutenant. - Good. Hi, lieutenant. Youre here again? What are you doing, bucking for admiral? What did you bring the doctor for? Is somebody sick? He likes harmonica music. - Hows the fire doing aft? - It's just about under control. Lieutenant? Slowly going out of control, Tony. How long do you give it? Twelve hours, give or take a few minutes. Youre an officer and a gentleman. Always the straight dope, huh? - Always the straight dope. - Lieutenant, were all set here. Okay, I'll tell you when to start. Now, look, Im gonna start the jacks and the winches going. All we have to do is raise this girder 3, 4 inches. If you feel it lifting, try to get your legs out by yourself, got it? - WI'll do. - And if things start falling, cover up. - What wI'll you do? - I'll sing the "'MMarine Hymn. "' Okay, lets go. All right, start them! Hold it! Nothing doing, lieutenant. All right, slack off. There goes your ball game, lieutenant. - Not yet. - Straight dope? The straight dope. We cant get you out this way, Tony. Well have to try putting in more jacks with a different rig, but it'lll take time. My time is your time. Im gonna start my boys working from the outside with acetylene torches. I dont think we'lll have time enough to reach you, Tony, but we'lll try. Where does this leave me, sitting here frying? Sitting there frying. Doc, could you perform an operation down here? Get out of here, both of you. I know what youre thinking. Youll get me out, all right. You'lll get half of me out! Leave me alone! If youre gonna get me out, you get me out in one piece. Otherwise, keep away from me! - Think about it, Tony. - Peddle your wheelchairs elsewhere! Okay, I'll start the boys with the torches right away. Doc, you stop sucking around me, and if you come near me... ...with one needle, I'll brain you, so help me I wI'll. I wont touch you. Tony, isn't there somebody you want to talk to? No! Have you seen this picture before? Yeah, the lady is my aunt Clara... ...and the man is my Sunday-school teacher... ...and the colored gentleman played second base... ...when I managed the New York Giants. Ever see that before? Yeah, they gave them out as favors at a strawberry festival I once went to. Now, dont be so tough, Tony. We want to help you. Help me? You want to make a half a man out of me. - We want to keep you alive. - I dont like the terms. It's no deal. You come back when you can make a better offer. And keep out of my locker from now on! - I'll be back to see you again soon. - Don't hurry on my account. Boatswain, get more men pitching those acetylene bottles. - Howd you make out? - I tried to talk him into it... ...but he wouldnt have it. Its the only way you'rre gonna get him out of there. What do you think? My job is to get him out of there alive if I can. Thats all, I think. My job is to keep as much of the human race as possible... ...alive as long as possible. What would you do if you were in there? Me? Id say, "'CCut away, doc. "' Ive lots to live for, I got a wife and two kids. Maybe hes got nobody. Hes got somebody. A boy like that's bound to have somebody. - Well, they better turn up real fast. - Yes. Hey, boatswain, we havent got all day. Lets get some more men up here. Is that boy gonna be all right, Dr. Sam? Sure. They gonna get that boy out of there, Dr. Sam? - Whats your name? - What difference what's my name? - Well, you know mine. - Everybody knows Dr. Sam. Jimmy Jean. - Do you want to help that boy in there? - Might be. - Like a drink? - Might be. Right. Chief, clear more room on the pier for drums. Well, thats the way it was. You asked me why that boy might be arriving on this island... ...with a gun in his locker. I guess you got as much of an answer as you need. What about Felix, is he here? - And the girl? - Shes here too, with him. Youre coming with me, Jimmy Jean. - Where to, doc? - Do you know where Felix is? - Yes, I do, doc. - Right. Monsieur, its no good. The fire is completely out of control. This ship of mine is going to blow up. We have got to take her out of the dock. Come on, you men. Get more stages fixed to get those barrels down. Get those gasoline drums out before the fire reaches them. Boatswain, push that guy up on the winch. Lieutenant! Lieutenant. - Lieutenant. - Come on, you men. Dont act like a bunch of flakes. Get those drums hove to. Jones, lend them a hand. Listen, lieutenant, we cant give you any more time. Weve waited too long as it is. I want to save the boy as much as anyone does... ...but that ship is likely to blow up any second. Get your men out of there. Im ordering her to be pulled out into the middle of the roadstead... ...where she can explode without blowing up the whole town with her. You understand my position, lieutenant, dont you? Yes. Yes, of course. Look, give me 15 more minutes. - What good wI'll 15 more minutes do? - Were putting in another jack. - Do you think it wI'll work? - No, but we have to try. But Im telling you, it's likely to go up any second. Are you wI'lling to go in there and risk it? All right, forget about yourself. I know thats your privilege. - But are you wI'lling to risk your men? - If I pull them out of there now... ...I'll be marked lousy from one end of the service to the other. Navies! I suppose a man has to be a lunatic in the first place, anyway, to join a navy. All right, 15 minutes. Im crazy, I say yes. And not a second more. And Im going to stand right here. If it blows, I want to blow with it. I dont want to be around to answer any questions later. Go! Go ahead, man. Dont stand there looking at me... ...with that sad, accusing American face of yours. Im tired of it. Polaski, bring up more jacks for the forward hold. Hi, lieutenant. Youre stI'll bucking for admiral, huh? - Yeah. - Came in the back door this time. We opened it up, just in case you want to get out in a hurry. Yeah, just in case. Now, listen, were gonna make one more try with the jacks. They might work, but if things begin to tumble around in here... ...and I cant reach you, that's the best way out. Okay. This is the last try, Tony. Theyre gonna tow this barge out in the middle of the roadstead. - And if she goes up... - I know. You havent...? Havent changed your mind about anything? No. Were all ready, lieutenant. Say when, sir. All right. Start them. Last one. Someday Im gonna give up cigarettes. Me too. Well, I guess thats it. Thats it. Now hear this. Now hear this. Towing crew, stand by. All others, abandon ship immediately. Abandon ship immediately. Towing crew, stand by. All others, abandon ship immediately. Immediately. Im sorry, kid. I seen a lot of guys. I was in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. I spent 10 hours in the water in the war. One thing Id want to have. Been carrying it for 12 years. Insurance. Now hear this. Now hear this. Cast off all lines. Just St. George and Navy tug 233 proceed immediately... ...in accordance with instructions. In accordance with instructions. Were going for a little ride, dear. - Whats happening, lieutenant? - He's stI'll out there. Weve done everything that we can, but it's just no use. Then theres no chance of getting him off? None. Hes stI'll on there. They couldn't get him off. What are they waiting for? Theyre waiting for it to blow up. You stay here, miss. You come with me. - Where? - Out there. You and I have got something to say to that boy. - I told you to stay behind. - He might want to see me. And if he does, I want to be there. Let the lady come if she wants to. We better stand off a little. This ships getting awful warm. What do you think? Is there anything I can do? No, maam, everything you could do, you already done. You hate me, dont you, Jimmy Jean? Yes, maam, I do. Tell him what you told me. Doc here says he could get you out of here if youd let him. Did he tell you how? Yeah. - Tell him what you said. - I said you wouldnt be alone. Id take care of you. We'd take care of you. Irena and me. Forever. - Did she say that? - Yeah, shes waiting now. Shes in the launch out here by the bow. You want me to get her and let her tell you herself? Keep her out of here. Nobodys gonna have to take care of me. I told you what hed say, doc. I know. Listen. Ive done everything I can for you, son. Now I want you to do something for me. - What? - Im a religious man, Tony. I believe in the word of God and in the power of prayer. I believe in grace and punishment for sin. When I read, 'VVengeance is mine, sayeth the Lord"'... ...I believe thats exactly what it means. I know why you came to this island, Tony. I know what the gun in your locker was for. I dont want you to face the moment ahead of you... ...full of hatred and revenge. I want you to forgive him, Tony. Oh, hes no good, I know that. He's done you great harm, I know that too. Hes a betrayer... ...and a blasphemer and a liar. Wherever he goes, he leaves a path of ruin behind him. But I want you to forgive him. Let me tell you something, doc. If I had a gun in my hand, Id kI'll him this minute. And if I had a son, Id curse him... ...if he didnt promise me to spend his life tracking him down and kI'lling him. If I had a brother, Id swear I'd never let him rest... ...until he promised me that hed get him. And if I had a wife... ...the only way that she could ever prove that she loved me would... Okay, doc, youve had your chance. Now let me have mine. You get out of here. Tony and I have some things we have to say to each other. In private. - Tony? - Go on. Im all the things the doc said, kid. Plus a couple more he neglected to mention. But Im not gonna leave you alone now. I warned you we were doing the wrong thing... - ... that first night we saw her, didnt I? - Yeah. I knew it in my bones. Im hunchy. Its a funny thing, though. I never have hunches... ...when something goods gonna happen to me, only bad. Id be a great guy to consult to know who was going to lose a horserace. Does a man get a drink in this place? To the good years. I was straight with you for a long time, Tony. - I thought so. - I was. Im gonna be straight with you now. You did me a lot of good, and Im grateful to you. You picked a great way to show it. Until you came along, I was a rummy. Floating around the islands, getting rolled whenever I was drunk. Getting beat up in bars. But nobody in the whole world to care whether I lived or died. Then I saw Irena, and I... I knew they were bringing the curtain down on me. I never wanted anything so bad in my whole life, Tony. Maybe it was because we were so much alike. She got hers in Berlin... ...my whole life has been Berlin. Give me the bottle. Only, naturally, like all the rest, she went to you. I thought, 'Well, give him a little time. The games always over for him by 4:30. He plays again next Saturday out of town. ' Then you came to me and told me you were gonna marry her. That night I tipped off the customs. Im ashamed of it. It's the dirtiest thing a man could ever do. - And Id do it again, Tony, if I had to. - And the doctor says forgive! But I was wrong. You want to know why? - Why? - Because I didnt have to. Because two days later, after it was too late... ...to stop you or call off the customs... ...she came to my hotel room, where I was sitting half-drunk... ...with a three-day beard on my face... ...and she got down on her knees, and she kissed my hand. She told me she couldnt go through with it with you. Shed made a mistake. She couldn't marry you. You were young and gentle and offered her safety. Only she didnt want safety, she wanted me. And shed go anywhere and do anything I wanted her to. - Youre lying! - Want me to get her right now... - ... and have her tell it to your face? - Go get her! Tony! - When I say go, you jump with me. - Listen... ...you might as well know something. This doesnt change anything. And if I pull through this, Im stI'll coming after you. Go! We must get him to a hospital, quick. How could he have gotten out? I thought you said he couldnt move for at least another five days. I know what I said, but hes a young man, and he recovers fast. Doctors. I saw him. Hes coming here. He's picked up a gun. Dont you think you'd better get out of here? No, not really, doc. Sit down, Jimmy Jean. Have a drink. No, thank you, I'll have mine at the bar. - Oh, come on, sit down. - I'll warn this man... ...but I wont drink with him. Jimmy Jean has a highly developed moral sense. Rare in this day and age. Simone, bring us another glass. Were expecting a guest. We... - Now, Tony... - Thats all right, doc. We were expecting you. I want to talk to you outside. Alone. Im ready. Sit down. We have nothing to say to each other. Like the man says, some days you win, some days you lose. Drinks are on me. |
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