The Sinking of the Laconia

[SINGING IN GERMAN] [SPEAKING GERMAN] Radio: AND IN BREACH OF A PACT OF NON-AGGRESSIONS... [THOMAS LAUGHS] WHOSE BIRTHDAY IS IT TODAY?

IT'S MUMMY'S BIRTHDAY.

Suzy: MY BIRTHDAY.

[BOTH LAUGH] OH, THIS LOOKS GOOD.

YEAH, WELL, GO ON, THEN.

ONE, TWO, THREE... [BLOWS] [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] LOOK AT THE SMOKE.

[ALL TALKING] [BIG BAND MUSIC PLAYS] [BOTH LAUGH] [SHIP'S HORN BLOWS] YOU HAVE MISSED THE BOAT, MA'AM.

NO.

I'VE JUST SEEN THE BOAT.

BUT YOU HAVE MISSED IT, MA'AM.

THAT'S RIDICULOUS.

REGULATIONS.

SIR, PLEASE.

WE WERE JUST SHUTTING UP SHOP, I'M AFRAID.

IN FACT, WE HAVE SHUT UP SHOP.

I ONLY WANT SOME SUGAR AND TEA.

WELL, I HOPE YOU'VE GOT YOUR RATION BOOK AND YOUR CO-OP NUMBER IN TRIPLICATE.

COME ON.

BOY OR A GIRL?

GIRL.

PASSPORT, MADAM.

IT'S IN THE SUITCASE SOMEWHERE.

FEEL FREE TO OPEN IT.

IS SHE GOOD?

I'M VERY LUCKY.

SHE WAKES UP IN THE MORNING WITH A SMILE ON HER FACE AND IT STAYS THERE ALL DAY.

DESPITE EVERYTHING.

YES, DESPITE EVERYTHING.

GOT TWO GIRLS AT HOME.

BIT OLDER THAN, UH... ELLA.

LOVELY NAME.

WELL, THEN YOU ARE NOW FREE TO BOARD THE LACONIA BOUND FOR LIVERPOOL.

MISSUS... SMITH.

HILDA SMITH.

AND YOU ARE?

THOMAS MORTIMER.

JUNIOR THIRD OFFICER MORTIMER.

NOT A BAD DAY FOR IT.

ALL RIGHT.

PENNY FOR THEM, CAPTAIN?

A PENNY'S TOO MUCH.

WHAT HAVE WE DONE TO DESERVE THIS?

1,800 BLOODY ITALIANS LOCKED IN THE HOLD.

AND ALL THOSE SODDING POLISH LUMBERJACKS LOOKING AFTER THEM.

THEY WON'T MORE BREAD AND JAM.

NOT ONLY THAT, WE KNOW THE REASON THEY'RE HERE.

BALLAST FOR THE JOURNEY BACK.

I'VE SAID IT BEFORE AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN.

THIS SHIP WAS CREATED FOR THE RICH, THE IDLE, PINK GINS, AND SUNSETS OVER SORRENTO, AND SO WAS I. SHALL WE GO FOR A WALK?

OH, WELL.

I SUPPOSE IT'S BETTER THAN A DINGHY FROM DOHA IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT.

DO YOU THINK THEY'LL HAVE STAFF?

OH, MOTHER, IT COULD BE SO MUCH WORSE.

THOSE POOR BOYS.

LOOK, THERE'S ONE.

ONE WHAT?

BOXER.

TOUGH BASTARDS, THE POLES.

HEY!

LOOK.

THERE'S ANOTHER ONE.

I CAN ALWAYS TELL A BOXER, YOU KNOW.

JUST BY THE WAY THEY WALK, HOLD THEMSELVES.

AND HIT PEOPLE.

HEY, HEY, HEY.

HERE COMES THE CREAM.

YOU MIGHT CONSIDER YOUR LATE FATHER'S VIEWS ON FOREIGNERS, SARAH.

SHE'LL LOOK BACK, BILLY.

BET SHE WILL.

TOLD YOU.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU KNOWN THE CAPTAIN, SIR?

TRAINED TOGETHER.

HE WAS MY BEST MAN.

I WAS HIS.

MY ANSWER TO YOUR NEXT QUESTION IS, YES.

HE'S A WARRIOR, A BOTHERER.

ALWAYS HAS BEEN.

IF HE WAS RELIGIOUS, HE'D NEVER BE OFF HIS KNEES.

[CHUCKLES] BUT IS HE LUCKY?

OH, NO.

GOOD GOD, NO.

I TAKE IT YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR LAST SHIP.

BEST SAY YOUR PRAYERS.

[SIGHS] [MUSIC PLAYS, CROWD CHEERS] [SPEAKING GERMAN] [SPEAKING GERMAN] PRACTICE ROUND!

LOAD!

LOAD!

1,500 YARDS!

TARGET!

COUTTS.

CAPTAIN BENJAMIN COUTTS AT YOUR SERVICE, SIR.

THOMAS MORTIMER, JUNIOR THIRD OFFICER.

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK?

HONESTLY?

I'VE SEEN WORSE PROTECTED SHIPS, BUT MAINLY IN BOOKS ON MILITARY HISTORY.

BASICALLY, YOUR GUNS ARE RATHER SIMILAR TO MY FATHER.

A RELIC OF THE GREAT WAR.

SIR, IT'S ME-- BACK ON DUTY, TOWNES.

NOW.

RIGHT NOW.

NO, I'VE GOT A TOOTHACHE, SIR.

IT'S ME WISDOM TOOTH.

UNLIKELY, TOWNES, IN YOUR CASE.

NO, I'VE GOT A-- NO, YOU HAVEN'T.

YOU HAVEN'T.

BACK ON THE GUNS NOW.

OKAY, LADS, JUMP ON.

[SHIP'S HORN BLOWS] ROCKABYE, BABY, ON THE TREE TOP WHEN THE WIND BLOWS, THE CRADLE WILL ROCK WHEN THE BOUGH BREAKS, THE CRADLE WILL FALL AND DOWN WILL COME BABY, CRADLE AND ALL DEAR GOD, THE STORIES WE TELL OUR CHILDREN.

I HAVE TO SAY, I'VE TOLD MINE THOSE STORIES, TOO.

AND DO YOU KNOW WHAT?

THEY LAUGHED.

WE COME IN PEACE BEARING SWEETS.

JUST PLEASE DON'T ASK ME TO HOLD HER.

SHE'S FIVE MONTHS OLD.

I LOVE CHILDREN, REALLY I DO.

ESPECIALLY WHEN KODAK ARE INVOLVED AND THEY COME IN BLACK AND WHITE AND 4X3 AND NEATLY SEALED IN AN ENVELOPE.

YOU HAVE A BEAUTIFUL VOICE.

SHE CERTAINLY HAS.

LAURA FERGUSON, BY THE WAY.

HILDA SMITH.

WE HAVE A PROBLEM, SIR.

I THINK YOU NEED TO COME WITH ME.

THERE THE ENEMY GO AGAIN, MORTIMER.

RIGHT THEN, HILDA SMITH.

WHAT SHALL WE DO?

NOW TELL ME, DO YOU PLAY CARDS AT ALL?

GIN RUMMY, CANASTA, POKER?

SNAP.

SNAP?

[VOICES] [MEN SHOUTING] [MEN SHOUTING] IT'S GETTING OUT OF HAND.

WHAT ARE WE TO DO?

SIR, CAN YOU HELP ME?

CAN YOU HELP ME?

CAN'T HEAR YOU.

[SPEAKING ITALIAN] I AM VINCENZO DI GIOVANNI, AND AS YOU CAN TELL, IT IS THE GREAT FEAR OF THE MEN THAT WE ARE HERE, HELD CAPTIVE BENEATH THE WATERLINE BY THESE BRUTAL BASTARDS.

MANY OF OUR OWN MEN WORK BENEATH THE WATERLINE, TOO.

THERE'S NO ONE HERE CAN REALLY BE CALLED SAFE.

HA.

WELL DONE, MORTIMER.

PEACE IN OUR TIME, EH?

PLEASE, WE VOMIT AND WASH IN BUCKETS OF SEA WATER.

WE HAVE LESS PRIVACY THAN A PIG IN A PEN.

[MEN SHOUTING] I'M SURE SOMETHING CAN BE ARRANGED.

SOAP, WATER, FRESH AIR, TOO, ON A SHORT, BUT DAILY BASIS.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

I'LL REPORT YOUR OTHER COMPLAINTS TO THE CAPTAIN.

HEY, DO YOU KNOW BILLY HARDACRE, THE BOXER, LIEUTENANT?

YES, I DO.

EVERYBODY ON BOARD KNOWS BILLY HARDACRE.

HE WAS MY HERO.

I SAW HIM FIGHT, AND I AM A BOXER, TOO.

OH, REALLY?

[LAUGHS] [RUDZINSKI SPEAKING POLISH] [MEN LAUGH] WELL, THEN I'LL SEND HARDACRE DOWN AND YOU COULD TALK ABOUT BOXING, BRUTALITY, THAT SORT OF STUFF IF IT MAKES YOU HAPPY.

HEY, WHAT ARE THEY COMPLAINING ABOUT?

NOTHING MUCH.

THE FOOD IS SHIT, THE POLES ARE BASTARDS, THE PENS ARE DISGUSTING, DANGEROUS AND OVERCROWDED.

FAIR ENOUGH.

YOU FIGHT?

I BOX.

I FIGHT.

[CHEERING AND SHOUTING] I WOULDN'T!

I JUST FUCKING WOULDN'T.

[CHEERING AND SHOUTING] [CHANTING] [CHEERING] [CHANTING] [CHEERING] [GAGS] [ALL LAUGH] THE ONLY QUESTION IS DO YOU TRUST ME?

THAT'S THE ONLY QUESTION YOU HAVE TO ASK.

I TRUSTED YOU STRAIGHT AWAY.

SO?

MOST MEN I KNOW WOULD PREFER DANCING OR DRINKING.

WELL, I OFTEN DO.

IF IT'S ANY HELP, YOU SHOULD SEE MY SLOW WALTZ AFTER SEVERAL GIN AND TONICS.

[CHUCKLES] LOOK, I'M OFF DUTY, AND IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT.

I HAVE FOUR HOURS TO DO EXACTLY AS I WANT TO DO WITHIN REASON, AND THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO DO.

IT REMINDS ME.

SHE REMINDS ME.

I THINK YOU COULD BE THE KIND OF MAN THAT NEEDS NO REMINDING.

[KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK] THE MOMENT SHE CRIES, PROMISE ME.

AND THANK YOU.

RIGHT.

I HAVE THREE CHILDREN AT HOME, MORTIMER, IF YOU EVER FANCY A HOLIDAY IN THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS.

[HILDA AND LAURA LAUGH] THE CONCEPT OF LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.

NO, NO, THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN TO ME.

OH, SNAP.

THE VERY IDEA THAT I'D WALK INTO A ROOM AND THERE HE'D BE.

SNAP AGAIN.

[BOTH LAUGH] OH, BUT IT WAS.

IT WAS AS IF-- AS IF YOU'D KNOWN HIM ALL YOUR LIFE.

SNAP.

[LAUGHS] THAT'S EXACTLY HOW I FEEL TOO ABOUT ELLA'S FATHER.

OH, HE MUST BE WONDERFUL.

HE WAS.

HE WAS A WONDERFUL MAN, BRAVE TO THE POINT OF FOOLISHNESS.

I'M SO SORRY, HILDA.

I THOUGHT... WELL, I WAS HOPING.

[COUGHING] WELL, WHAT IN HEAVEN'S NAME HAPPENED TO HIM?

HE'S SEASICK, MADAM.

SEASICK, MY HIGHLAND ASS!

THIS YOUNG MAN HAS BEEN BEATEN!

WELL, NOT BY ME, HE HASN'T.

I DON'T CARE IF HE'S THE BASTARD SON OF MUSSOLINI HIMSELF!

WE DO NOT BEHAVE IN SUCH A MANNER!

WE LEAVE THAT TO THE GERMANS!

NOW, WAIT, LOVE.

BEFORE YOU CARRY ON KICKING OFF ON ME, WHY DO YOU THINK I'M IN THE MERCHANT NAVY AND NOT DUCKIN' BULLETS SOMEWHERE, HMM?

IT'S BECAUSE I WON'T FIGHT ANYMORE.

AND THAT IS THE PROBLEM, ISN'T IT?

RIGHT.

[COUGHING] [MUSIC PLAYS] UH... MAY I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF THIS DANCE?

DEAR GOD, MOTHER, THE MERRY WIDOW.

MAY I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF THIS DANCE, MISS?

NO.

THANK YOU.

DO YOU MIND IF I SIT WITH YOU?

NO.

OH, CAPTAIN COUTTS.

[CHUCKLES] IT'S EMBARRASSING.

YOUR POOR MOTHER.

I HAD A GOOD DAY.

YES, LOVELY.

MAY I?

[MUSIC STOPS, APPLAUSE] [BABY CRIES] COME ON, WHERE'S THAT LITTLE GIRL WHO WAKES UP WITH A SMILE ON HER FACE, HUH?

SHH.

HAVE A BIT OF THIS.

[BABY CRIES] ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT.

SHH, SHH.

SHH.

OH, DEAR ME, HERE COMES CAPTAIN COUTTS.

HAS HE THREATENED TO DANCE WITH YOU?

HE'S THREATENED TO DANCE WITH EVERYONE.

NOW BE PREPARED, HILDA SMITH.

THE VERY NEXT DANCE IS MINE.

JUST THINK OF IT AS YOUR PART OF THE WAR EFFORT.

AND WHAT PART OF ENGLAND WOULD YOU BE FROM, MRS.

SMITH?

YOUR ACCENT PERPLEXES ME.

I'VE GYPSY BLOOD, I SUPPOSE.

ALWAYS BEEN A BIT OF A WANDERER.

NEVER NAILED YOUR COLORS TO THE MAST?

BUT YOU MUST BE FROM SOMEWHERE.

WE'RE ALL FROM SOMEWHERE.

I KNOW WHERE I'M FROM, AND YOU'D BE VERY SURPRISED.

DO YOU KNOW OXFORDSHIRE, BY ANY CHANCE?

YES, I DO, AS A MATTER OF FACT, VERY WELL.

[BABY CRIES] MOTHER'S TOUCH, I'M AFRAID.

THANK YOU, MORTIMER.

THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I'LL TAKE HER BACK TO THE CABIN.

YOU ALL RIGHT?

I WILL BE.

MOTHER'S TOUCH, INDEED.

DO YOU KNOW I NEVER HEARD MY BABY CRY.

YOUR BABY NEVER CRIED?

OH, I CRIED FOR ATTENTION MAINLY.

I WAS JUST NEVER THERE TO HEAR YOU, DARLING.

OH, THE JOY AND BLISS OF NANNIES, THAT'S ALL.

PRACTICE ROUND!

LOAD!

LOAD!

OH, FOR GOD'S SAKE!

IS THERE NOTHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT THAT DAMN SMOKE?

POOR QUALITY FUEL, SIR.

BOILER'S IN DESPERATE NEED OF AN OVERHAUL.

IT'S JUST A FACT OF THIS... THE WAR.

I KNOW, THE BLOODY WAR.

WELL, I'M GONNA START SMOKING AGAIN BEFORE THIS THING'S OVER, I CAN TELL YOU THAT.

ALL TOGETHER NOW, ONE, TWO, THREE.

MY BONNIE LIES OVER THE SEA MY BONNIE LIES OVER THE OCEAN SO BRING BACK MY BONNIE TO ME LAST NIGHT AS I LAY ON MY PILLOW LAST NIGHT AS I LAY ON MY BED LAST NIGHT AS I LAY ON MY PILLOW I DREAMED THAT MY BONNIE WAS DEAD BRING BACK, BRING BACK... NO RIFF-RAFF, SARAH.

BRING BACK MY BONNIE TO ME, TO ME BRING BACK, BRING BACK OH, BRING BACK MY BONNIE TO ME [APPLAUSE] YOU DO KNOW THAT YOU MISSED OUT A WHOLE CHORUS AND A VERSE, DON'T YOU, HMM?

I WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND THE ENGLISH.

OH, GIVE ME A HOME WHERE THE BUFFALO ROAM WHERE THE DEER AND THE ANTELOPE PLAY WHERE SELDOM IS HEARD... UH, JUST HAD AN ORDER FROM THE CAPTAIN, HILDA.

HE REQUIRES SOMEONE ONSTAGE WHO CAN HOLD A TUNE.

[CHUCKLES] YOU MEAN ME?

BLOODY GOOD IDEA!

MRS.

SMITH IS GOING TO SING.

OH, NO!

I COULDN'T.

I JUST COULDN'T.

NOT IN PUBLIC.

BUT YOU HAVE-- YOU KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE.

YOU HAVE A BEAUTIFUL VOICE.

OH, COME ON, HILDA.

ENTERTAIN THE TROOPS.

I WOULD IF I COULD.

SING "WE'LL MEET AGAIN."

YOU'LL BRING THE HOUSE DOWN.

GO ON.

I DON'T THINK I KNOW ALL THE WORDS TO THAT SONG.

EVERY MAN, WOMAN AND CHILD KNOWS THOSE WORDS.

TELL YOU WHAT.

I'LL EVEN HOLD THE BABY.

IT'S NOT A LONG SONG, IS IT?

[CHUCKLES] AND THE SKIES ARE NOT CLOUDY ALL DAY [APPLAUSE] WE'LL MEET AGAIN DON'T KNOW WHERE, DON'T KNOW WHEN BUT I KNOW WE'LL MEET AGAIN SOME SUNNY DAY [SINGING ALONG] SOME SUNNY DAY KEEP SMILING THROUGH JUST LIKE YOU ALWAYS DO... MY MOTHER WOULD KILL ME.

OH, COME ON, SARAH.

I'VE ALWAYS HATED THAT SONG.

[SINGING ALONG IN POLISH] KEEP SMILING THROUGH JUST LIKE YOU ALWAYS DO TILL THE BLUE SKIES DRIVE THE DARK CLOUDS FAR AWAY [KNOCK ON DOOR] SIR.

[SIGHS] OH, NO.

DO YOU WANT ME TO... NO.

GET HIM.

I'LL TALK TO HIM.

SOME SUNNY DAY [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] [KNOCK ON DOOR] COME.

THIS WAS SENT A FEW MOMENTS AGO.

IT ISN'T GOOD NEWS, IS IT?

NO.

YOU MIGHT WISH TO SIT DOWN.

ALL OF THEM, SIR?

WHAT KIND OF A WORLD IS IT WHEN GERMAN BOMBERS CAN COME BLINDLY IN THE NIGHT AND MURDER INNOCENT FAMILIES?

WHEN BULLETS AND BLOOD ARE THE ONLY CURRENCY?

NOT THE KIND OF WORLD I WISH TO LIVE IN.

IF YOU WANT, YOU CAN... OR SIT HERE.

WHY DON'T YOU JUST STAY HERE?

TELL NOBODY, SIR.

JUST... NOBODY IS TO KNOW, SIR.

FIRE!

LOAD!

LOAD!

1,500 YARDS!

TARGET!

TARGET!

FIRE!

DONE YOUR ROUNDS?

TINNED HAM AND TONGUE TONIGHT, SIR.

BABY POTATOES.

THE CREW MENU?

MEAT PIE, SIR.

MEAT PIE.

MMM.

OH, COME ON, JAMES.

DON'T KEEP ME WAITING.

THERE'S A WAR ON.

[LAUGHS] MUNICH, JUNE 1942.

A HOLIDAY SNAPSHOT PERHAPS?

WHO HAS HOLIDAYS IN GERMANY THESE DAYS, HILDA?

ONLY GERMANS.

MORTIMER... OH!

GO ON!

NOW!

[SCREAMING] TAKE THE CHILD TO THE LIFEBOAT, ALL RIGHT?

STAY HERE.

KEEP CALM, EVERYONE!

SLOWLY MAKE YOUR WAY OUT.

KEEP CALM, EVERYONE.

[SHOUTING] SIR!

I'VE ORDERED "ABANDON SHIP" AND "MAN THE LIFEBOATS," WHICH NATURALLY, OF COURSE, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH OF!

MORTIMER!

YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO.

JETTISON THE CONFIDENTIAL MAIL AND THE CODES!

BUT BEFORE YOU DO THAT, GO TO THE RADIO ROOM AND FIND OUT WHAT DISTRESS SIGNALS HAVE BEEN TRANSMITTED.

I KNOW, I KNOW, YOUR PATH MAY BE SOMEWHAT BLOCKED, BUT JUST DO THE BEST YOU CAN.

[SIGHS] WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

WHAT IS THAT?

WHAT IS THAT?

[CHUCKLES] [LAUGHTER] [SHOUTING] BEFORE YOU START, THIS ISN'T OUR FAULT, RIGHT?

THE MAINMAST'S FALLEN.

WIRELESS TRANSMITTER FALLEN WITH IT.

IT'S IN BITS ON THE DECK.

WE HAD NO CHANCE OF SENDING AN S.O.S.

THAT COULD HAVE BEEN HEARD.

WHAT ABOUT AN EMERGENCY SET?

WE'VE BEEN FLASHING SS SIGNALS SAYING WE'VE BEEN HIT, AND BADLY, TOO, WARNING OF SUBMARINES IN THE AREA.

WE ARE DOING OUR BEST, YOU KNOW.

I KNOW YOU ARE.

MORTIMER, WHEN IT'S TIME TO GO, WILL YOU TELL THE BRIDGE WE'D LIKE TO GO, TOO?

POOR BASTARD.

[GROANS] OH!

BACK THERE!

HEAD FOR STARBOARD!

YOU'LL STAND A BETTER CHANCE.

STAY ON STARBOARD!

STARBOARD IS THAT WAY!

SIR, HAVE YOU SEEN MY CHILDREN?

I'M AFRAID I HAVEN'T.

THEY'RE BLONDE, SIX AND-- I KNOW WHO THEY ARE, BUT I'M AFRAID I HAVEN'T SEEN THEM, ALL RIGHT?

AND THEN YOU PROCEED TO YOUR...YOUR "MUSTARD" STATION AND CREW MEMBERS WILL BE AT HAND TO...TO ASSIST.

[SHOUTING] ANTHONY?

CHARLOTTE?

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

IF THEY'RE NOT HERE, THEY'LL BE IN A LIFEBOAT.

YOU KNOW THEY'RE HERE!

NO, I DON'T.

AAH!

THAT IS SO UNLUCKY.

[EXPLOSION] READY TO GO, SIR.

SHALL I CHUCK IT IN?

WE'RE FUCKED, AREN'T WE?

WE'VE HAD IT!

SHIP'S FUCKED, BUT WE'RE NOT.

COME ON, LIFT IT.

THE CONFIDENTIAL MAIL?

ALL GONE, SIR, OVER THE SIDE.

THE MEN IN THE RADIO ROOM, SIR.

SCARED.

OF COURSE THEY ARE.

SHALL I GO DOWN, SIR?

NO, YOU SHAN'T!

SHALL I MAN THE GUNS, SIR?

RIGHT, YOU.

STOP BEING A BLOODY HERO.

YOU'RE MAKING ME ILL.

YOU'RE A YOUNG MAN STILL.

AND WHATEVER'S HAPPENED, THERE WILL BE LIFE AFTER DEATH ONE DAY.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND?

DO YOU UNDERSTAND?

GOOD.

FINE.

SIR.

SSS LACONIA.

KEEP THE ITALIANS OUT OF THE BOATS!

BILLY, HELP ME!

LEAVE HIM ALONE!

HE'S ONE OF US!

BILLY!

IN FACT, LEAVE THEM ALL ALONE!

AAH!

KIDS!

KIDS, THIS IS IT.

THE MOMENT YOU'VE BOTH BEEN WAITING FOR!

OKAY!

ON THE COUNT OF THREE.

A-ONE.

A-TWO, A-THREE!

AAH!

GET BACK!

COME ON NOW.

LEAVE THEM.

OKAY, JUST FOLLOW ME!

[EXPLOSION] [BABY FUSSES] [BABY CRIES] THANK YOU, MORTIMER.

THE BABY IS WHY.

[BABY CRIES] SHH.

SHH.

[BABY CRIES] SHH.

IT'S ALL RIGHT.

DON'T WORRY.

EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE.

LOOK OUT!

OH!

ELLA!

ELLA!

ELLA!

ELLA!

ELLA!

ELLA!

ELLA!

ELLA!

OVER HERE!

THIS WAY, KIDS!

THIS WAY!

COME ON!

KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE BOAT!

COME ON, THAT'S IT!

KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE BOAT!

COME ON!

IT'LL BE THAT BLOODY BLACK SMOKE, YOU KNOW.

THE BASTARDS COULDN'T MISS IT.

I TOLD YOU, DIDN'T I?

MANY TIMES.

AND I TOLD YOU I'D START SMOKING AGAIN BEFORE THIS VOYAGE WAS OVER.

I KNEW I WOULD.

DON'T FORGET TO CUP YOUR HAND AROUND THE CIGARETTE.

DON'T WANT THE ENEMY TO SEE THE GLOW.

DO YOU GOT ENOUGH THERE?

OH, I THINK SO, SOMEHOW.

ANYONE WHO THINKS THAT WAR IS SOMEHOW A GOOD THING SHOULD BE STOOD HERE TONIGHT, GEORGE.

AND WHAT'S MORE... I'LL BELIEVE THAT TO MY DYING DAY.

I DON'T KNOW.

THIS WAR, FIGHTING THE THIRD REICH, HITLER, THE NAZIS.

IT'S A GOOD WAR.

IT'S A GOOD THING.

IT HAS TO BE.

BUT ONLY IF WE WIN IT.

[SCREAMING] UH-OH.

OH, DEAR GOD.

HERE WE GO.

NO ELLA?

NO.

NO ELLA.

OH.

YOU'LL HAVE TO BE BRAVE FOR ME NOW.

BRAVE.

YES.

I NEED YOU TO GO TO SCOTLAND TO FIND MY HUSBAND, TO TELL HIM WHAT'S HAPPENED HERE TO ME.

I'LL BORROW YOUR BRAVERY.

YOU MIGHT HAVE TO BE EVEN BRAVER IF YOU DO WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO.

I NEED YOU TO... OF COURSE I'LL FIND HIM.

HE WILL KNOW ABOUT YOUR COURAGE AND YOUR LOVE.

CASTLE SCOURIE, NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS, THREE BOYS, NINE, SIX, NEARLY FIVE, ZACHARIAS, WENDELL, UPJOHN.

FAMILY NAMES.

MY HUSBAND'S FAMILY NAMES.

GO ON.

CALL ME SENTIMENTAL.

[BOTH CRY] OVER HERE!

THIS WAY!

COME ON!

THAT'S IT!

STRAIGHT TO ME!

COME ON!

COME ON.

GOT YOU!

THERE'S ROOM FOR TWO INSIDE, YOU KNOW.

NO.

ONLY ONE.

YOU SURE?

[SCREAMING] OH, FUCK A DUCK.

OH, HEY, GIRL.

WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE, THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS?

DO YOU HAVE YOUR CAPTAIN OR ANY SENIOR OFFICERS ONBOARD?

HE SPOKE THAT IN ENGLISH.

DID YOU HEAR THAT?

NO OFFICERS, BUT LADIES.

ENGLISH LADIES.

[KNOCK KNOCK] COFFEE.

I WANT NOTHING FROM YOU.

YOU'VE ALREADY GIVEN US FAR, FAR TOO MUCH.

SUCH BRAVERY IS HIGHLY COMMENDABLE, MADAM, BUT TOTALLY STUPID.

WE ARE 644 NAUTICAL MILES FROM THE COAST OF WEST AFRICA.

YES?

VINCENZO DI GIOVANNI, SIR.

THERE WERE 1,800 OF US, ITALIAN, BUT THERE WON'T BE ANYMORE.

AND FOR THAT, YOU CAN THANK THE POLISH AND SOME OF THE BRITISH, TOO.

THEY HAD GUNS AND THEY HAD OARS AND THEY BEAT US AND-- I THINK I GET THE POINT, YOUNG MAN.

REALLY, I DO.

THIS IS VERY KIND OF YOU, CAPTAIN.

IF YOU WERE ENGLISH, YOU'D BE A GENTLEMAN.

GERMANY HAS GENTLEMEN, TOO, MADAM.

NOT RECENTLY, SIR.

MY BONNIE LIES OVER THE OCEAN MY BONNIE LIES OVER THE SEA MY BONNIE LIES OVER THE OCEAN OH, BRING BACK MY BONNIE... HEY!

31 BISCUITS, SEVEN BARS OF CHOCOLATE, A LOT OF HORLICK'S TABLETS AND THAT'S ABOUT IT.

NO HEATER, NO FIRST AID KIT, NO OIL LAMP, NO COMPASS, AND NO AXE.

LOOK, IT'S NOT MY FAULT, BABY FACE.

I WAS JUST A WINE WAITER.

UH, I DON'T SUPPOSE WE'VE GOT ANY FLARES, HAVE WE?

NO, WE FUCKIN' WELL HAVEN'T!

WHY DIDN'T YOU LOOK FOR THE WATER CASKS?

AND I TOLD YOU, DON'T BE LOOKING AT ME AS IF IT'S MY FAULT, PAL!

I AM NO PAL OF YOURS, PAL.

HEY!

HOW ARE YOU, SIR?

WELCOME ABOARD.

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT EITHER.

NO SWASTIKAS, NO "HEIL HITLERs," NO TORTURE, NO PROPAGANDA.

AND WHAT'S MORE... THERE'S FUCKIN' BRANDY IN THIS COFFEE.

IT IS POPULAR WITH BOTH MEN AND WOMEN IN GERMANY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

HMM.

I DON'T SUPPOSE, UM... NO, NO.

SILLY OF ME.

IS IT COLD CREAM, YOU'RE THINKING OF?

GOOD LORD.

I'VE NEVER MET A MAN YET WHO TAKES CARE OF HIS SKIN.

WE HAVE TO.

UNDER THE SEA, IT IS ALWAYS, UM... SWEATY?

YEAH.

IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE YOU MIGHT WANT?

WHEN THE...UM, OUR SHIP SANK, I'M AFRAID I BECAME SEPARATED FROM MY DAUGHTER.

IF YOU SEE HER WHEN YOU SEARCH THE SEA, SHE'S 18, VERY PRETTY.

[CHUCKLES] IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY.

OH, YOUR CLOTHING WILL BE RETURNED AS SOON AS IT IS DRY AND THE CLOTHING OF YOUR CHILDREN, TOO.

THESE ARE NOT MY CHILDREN.

OH.

WELL, YOU AND THE CHILDREN... MY CHILD WAS A BABY.

SHE WAS SEVEN MONTHS OLD.

YOU KILLED HER.

WELL...REGRETTABLY.

THIS IS WAR.

WE COULD OFFER YOU SOME EAU DE COLOGNE.

I PICKED UP 193 MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN FOUR DEGREES, 42 MINUTES SOUTH, 11 DEGREES, 26 MINUTES WEST, GERMAN SUBMARINE.

IF ANY SHIP WILL ASSIST THE SHIPWRECKED LACONIA CREW... I WILL NOT ATTACK HER.

I WILL NOT ATTACK HER.

WHAT?

DO THE AMERICANS KNOW?

SEND A CAR!

HEY!

WHAT IS THE GERMAN FOR TRUTH?

WHAT'S THE GERMAN FOR DECEPTION OR BETRAYAL?

THIS HAS ALL THE AROMA OF A TRAP!

BUT WHAT IF IT ISN'T A TRAP, SIR?

AH, YOU SEE?

THERE YOU HAVE IT, YOUNG MAN.

THERE YOU HAVE IT.

CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF TOMORROW MORNING 0700 HOURS.

ARE YOU CERTAIN WE SHOULDN'T TELL THEM ABOUT THE GERMAN SUBMARINE?

NO.

GOOD GOD, NO.

IT'S A GODDAMNED SUBMARINE!

THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT ACTION WE SHOULD TAKE, SIR.

FUCKING FIRE AT THEM!

FIRE AT THEM!

GO BELOW!