Assault on a Queen Page #3

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But the victim,

the Queen Mary,

does not know this.

I believe we can assume

that our Queen

won't take

any unnecessary risks.

She'll allow herself

to be boarded.

Then, as Rosa

has suggested,

it's gold bullion

and cash.

We go back

to our submarine,

submerge,

leave the scene.

Yeah, and figure

the take.

A million bucks or more.

We could walk away

from this with nothing to worry about

for the rest

of our lives.

Yeah, I like it.

It makes sense.

It makes sense

if you win the game.

The game you're a playingis that

you're holding an unloaded pistol at a stranger's head.

You figure he's going to throw up his hands.

Suppose the stranger

spits in your eye

and says,

"Go ahead and shoot."

What the hell are you

going to do then?

Now, hold on,

this is all a joke, right?

Nobody here thinks

this is going to work?

You just get this clear.

If you don't think

it can work,

you don't belong

on this trip.

I don't relish the ides

of being cooped up in a sub

with a caramel-colored

lush, anyway.

Forgive him, Linc, please.

He didn't mean it.

I'll take your word

for that.

Hey, come on,

this is ridiculous.

Why the argument, huh?

Let's get on with the,

uh, with the business.

Did you know

this thing is so wild, it can work?

It's so nutty

it can work.

Eric...

You think it's possible.

What about it?

I take it

you are willing.

We all have

special needs,

Mr. Brittain.

I wish it were

catching.

I'd like you along.

Let's take it by steps.

First we got o find

an enclosed mooring

somewhere

down the coastline

where it's nice and quiet,

nobody around, check?

Check.

Then tomorrow,

I'll go over

and see if I can't

raise that submarine.

Lieutenant Brittain, what a pity

we have never

before served in the same navy.

We should do

very well together.

You just see you run

a taut ship, Commander,

because in this little war,

we're going to need one.

Let's go.

Look at the buoy.

He must have reached

the sub.

How long will it take him, Eric?

15 minutes, half hour.

Maybe longer.

Not much longer.

It better not

take him much longer.

What will he do?

He'll go to the escape hatch.

If the trunk

underneath is flooded

he might get it open.

If he does,

he'll move inside and close the hatch...

Once he's inside

the tube...

he'll, uh,

try to open the drain.

Go on.

Then what?

At that point,

either the water just stays there, unmoving,

because the sub

is filled with water,

or it will drain away.

If it does,

he'll try to open the lower hatch.

But if it's

not possible, he'll come up?

There's 100 feet

of sea water

35,000 pounds

on that hatch.

He could never open it.

Then you'll have

to take up another card game,

and we'll have

missed another one.

Victor, please.

Hey, hey,

come on Baby,

What's the matter?

Nobody dies

in Italy?

58 minutes.

Well, kiss him off.

Eric, any...chance?

He's got

a job down there.

He's got to stay on his lung,

because

if that sub is dry,

It'll all be

dead air

and damn little of it.

He'll

blow the ballast if he can.

But there's a lot of ifs.

The valves

of the air flask have to hold.

There's got to be

enough pressure

to blow

all the water from the ballast.

He's got

quite a job.

Hey!

Hooray!

[ENGINE STARTS]

Upsy-Daisy.

Give me that light.

Quite an exceptional

gentleman... in his day.

He was left here...

probably

at his own orders

so that his men

could get out.

Then he, himself,

filled the ballast tanks

to let the sub sink.

Then he just sat....

Waiting to die.

Well, what do you

want to do,

stuff him

and sell tickets, Hmm?

We'll get hold

of some fishing nets, some canvas...

And bury him at sea?

Yes.

Would you help me?

I'll find some canvas.

I can think of a hundred

better ways to die.

All right, let's get

this stuff ashore

and burn it.

Pass this along.

Rosa!

Yes.

Pass this through.

Victor!

We're going backto the boat, Mark.

Yeah, O.K.

Come along

as soon as you're through.

Check.

Well,

what's the verdict?

4-0 is the verdict.

She's in better shape

than we dared hope.

Not too much corrosion, little damage.

Batteries are dead,

naturally.

That's probably

what stopped her to begin with.

Let's get started,

Huh?

What's

the first thing?

I want a drink first.

What we need now

is a mechanic. A good mechanic,

somebody who knows

sub engines inside and out.

That's great.

We'll put an ad in the paper.

No need.

I know such a man.

I worked in the Brooklyn

navy yard a while back.

Met a chap

named Moreno.

He can strip an engine

and put it together again

in his sleep.

He car repair anything

from an ocean liner to a sailboat.

He'd he well worth his cut.

Eric,

what would his cut be?

Even shares all around.

Isn't that what we decided?

Sure, sure.

But someJonny-Come-Lately greasemonkey

who contributes

a screwdriver...

How does he figure

to get a full share?

Rosa, you know something,

We start divvying this up

too many ways,

that's going to shrink

the melon.

If Eric says

he's needed,

he's s partner.

He's a partner

if he wants to be a partner.

I think we're taking

a little too much for granted, here.

How do we know

he'll sit still for this?

You'd be amazed

at what some people will sit still for.

Mr Moreno and I

have been involved in several transactions.

I've never known him

to fail me.

Are you saying

you got something on Moreno?

Maybe a little more

than he's got on me.

At any rate,

his morality

is as flexible

as ours.

He is

what your navy calls

"Dishonorably

Discharged".

You think

you can locate this man?

I'll start tomorrow.

It shouldn't be too difficult.

Well, that settles that.

Let's go ashore

and get some sleep.

It's getting late.

No. I'd like

a swim first.

Well, now baby,

it's past midnight.

Why don't we settle

for a hot bath?

You got a bathing suit,

I got some towels below.

I'm sure you do,

but the lady needs her sleep.

Just so we don't

misunderstand each other, Brittain.

We don't share

everything alike.

What was owned before,

that's not in the pot.

So we don't have anymisunderstandings--

Nobody owns me.

You have a few

prerogatives,

Victor,

but that's a gift

from me to you.

I can revoke

the license anytime.

May I use

your cabin, please?

Thank you.

I'll go with you.

The young lady can

swim her way back home.

You step

on my toes a lot, Brittain.

I'm unaccustomed.

Cry a little baby,

so I'll know.

You'll know,

believe it.

You don't get out

of there,

you're going to grow

a fin.

Ahh...Brrr!

Ever been

a masseur?

No, but I

could kick myself.

Linc, throw me that

that little jacket, will you?

Thank you.

Where'd you learn

to swim so good,

diving for coins

in the Bay of Naples?

I do everything

with perfection,

Mr. Brittain--

Swimming, dancing,

fundraising,

almost everything.

And you?

I play a little gin.

I catch a little fish.

If I catch a lot

of fish,

I get splendidly stoned.

It's a living.

I think

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