Attack On The Iron Coast Page #4

---

Temperature 51,

barometer 1-0, 1-0.3.

Wind veering northwest,

but nothing to worry about.

Visibility good.

On time, on course, sir.

I don't want to be a soldier

I don't want to fight the foe

I would much prefer to roam

or be kept right here at home

On the earnings

of a lady friend I know...

A wee singsong's good

for the nerves, they tell me.

True, Skipper, true.

I'm much happier, by far,

with my mother and my pa

So I wouldn't be a soldier any day

Hey, Nobby!

If you get hit on the beach,

don't bleed all over me, all right?

I'll remember, mate.

And don't sleep on duty!

All right! Once again!

I don't want to be a soldier

I don't want to fight the foe

I would much prefer to roam

or be kept right here at home...

You know, if they sang a bit louder,

maybe Jerry would clear off.

I know I would.

I'm surprised old Franklin

hasn't sounded off about it.

I don't think he will.

Why? Has he gone deaf

or something?

Ever since that plane attack,

he's loosened his collar a bit.

Just the same,

I think I'll tell them to pipe down.

I don't want to fight the foe

I would much prefer to roam

Or be kept right here at home

On the earnings of a lady friend I know

All right, fellas!

All right, boys!

Knock it off!

All right, fellas.

All right, boys.

Pipe down, pipe down.

Fellas, fellas!

Pipe down.

You don't want Jerry to know

what he's missing, do you?

Hello, there.

Hello, there.

This is your captain speaking.

We have now reached halfway.

From this point on, all commandos

will remain below deck until ordered.

Ship's company will remain closed up.

I'm now handing over to Major Wilson.

At this moment,

sealed orders are being opened

aboard each of the craft astern of us.

For the past three months,

you've been training to attack a target

without knowing its name

or precise location.

Here it is. Le Clair.

The German fleet's most vital and

important installation on the French coast.

Our task, destruction.

Our method, blowing up the dock,

supported by commando assault.

To that end, the bow of this vessel

is packed with high explosives.

We are, in fact,

riding a floating torpedo.

Our intention is to plow headfirst

into the dry dock gates.

We ram, scuttle the ship, and run.

Run where?

I'm sure you'll be interested in knowing

that we will not explode on contact.

Now, that's what I call considerate.

From the moment of impact,

we will have five minutes-

repeat, five minutes-

to get ashore and get clear.

From then on,

seek and destroy secondary targets.

The signal for retirement-

red, white, red by Verry light.

You will embark on the small craft

as designated,

and, God willing,

will be returned to England.

Should you miss the boat, then proceed

inland to points Freddie, Charlie, Baker,

our French underground contacts.

Good hunting...

...and good luck.

And the best

of Canadian luck to you, mate.

Now, don't forget, boys.

We're past the halfway mark-

keep your voices down.

I went on a day trip to Le Clair once.

Any good?

No. Horrible tea, horrible grub.

But the women!

They could hardly get me to go home.

You'll be glad

to go home tomorrow, matey.

Bosun's Mate, break out the rum.

Double tot for each man.

God bless the Navy on a night like this.

The night signals, Herr Oberst.

You know something, my friend?

We Germans, we eat too much.

French food is fattening.

Remind me to put in

a strong complaint.

There's been another attack

on that radar station.

You can hardly call it an attack.

The saboteurs included

a twelve-years-old boy.

Those French will never learn.

Of course, they are a nuisance.

Have you heard any more

about that minesweeper?

Not a thing.

Minesweeping.

How those British waste their energy.

Is perfect weather for an air attack

and not a sign of the RAF.

Twenty-four hours ago,

you promised me RAF support.

Where it is?

Read this.

I think this explains it.

Yes, we've had heavy losses

over Dusseldorf tonight.

Take it from me,

they gave us hell last night as well.

The squadrons assigned to Mad Dog

are not even respectable scrap.

What have you got in reserve?

Nothing we can spare

without leaving ourselves wide open.

- I'm sorry, but-

- Sorry?

I'm sorry for one rather ancient

minesweeper and four cockleshells

just hours away from Le Clair.

They happen to be without escort

of any kind.

They're naked.

Without a divisionary raid from Bomber

Command, they'll be out there dead.

Why didn't you give them some support?

A couple of destroyers

or even a cruiser.

Because we don't have-

That's what I mean.

Not far now, huh, Pringle?

Yes, sir.

Time to quit being scared, huh?

Have you been

on one of these before, sir?

Yes.

This lighter, sir.

It's brand-new.

Who is Sue?

My wife.

She wouldn't go

for you giving it to me, sir.

She'd understand.

You'd better hang on to it.

I've got something with me

from my sweetheart.

Just received from DCO, sir.

- Well, what is it?

- It's an immediate, sir.

"Immediate NOC 7-2 B4.

Urgent.

"Air diversion not available.

"Cancel Mad Dog and return.

Acknowledge. "

No reply.

Sir?

I said no reply.

Aye-aye, sir.

- Pollard.

- Sir?

You didn't hear a word, did you?

Me, sir?

I've got cloth ears, sir.

Thank you, Pollard.

Captain.

- Here you are.

- Thank you, sir.

It's 10:
25 now.

- Any acknowledgment from Mad Dog?

- No, sir.

- Send that off at once.

- Yes, sir.

- Yes, what is it?

- Signal, sir.

Read it.

Read it.

"Emergency.

Await acknowledgment of 9-8-7-B-1.

"Cancel-repeat-cancel Mad Dog.

"Insist you comply

with this instruction

"and return at once.

Acknowledge immediately. "

Who's that addressed to?

The captain, sir.

All right, Sparks.

Well, what do you make of that?

Laddie, it's none of my business...

...but I think this old lady

might be getting a reprieve.

Why?

Mad Dog cancelled.

Why?

What reason did they give?

I don't understand, Franklin.

You've been fighting this operation

from the very beginning.

Yet now they've called it off,

you don't have a thing to say.

Standing on the bridge, Major...

...it's different

than sitting behind a desk.

What's that supposed to mean?

You feel closer to death.

That makes you closer to life.

And the truth comes rushing in.

You didn't kill my son.

He was a casualty of war.

And it's a war we have to win.

A war we have to win.

Now, I have made the decision.

We are not turning back.

But you realize what it means.

With no RAF to keep Jerry busy

elsewhere, of course.

Bombing the outskirts of that town

would've been

a good diversionary tactic.

Exactly.

But is it essential?

If Le Clair is ready for us, yes.

If not, if we surprise them, no.

Your guess is as good as mine.

For the record...

I am in command

as long as we are afloat.

And I'm clearly disregarding an order.

You can object on the grounds

that without RAF participation,

your force is inadequate.

For the record, I'm deaf.

Thanks.

I didn't hear you.

- Any word from them?

Rate this script:2.0 / 1 vote