Destination Tokyo Page #4

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Contact established.

Plane to starboard, sir.

Hold your fire.

Stand by to challenge.

Okay, Rocky.

Challenge.

Plane answered challenge

correctly, captain.

All stop. Rudder amidships.

Always nice to see

those stars on the wing.

You know, I'd sure like

to hook an Aleutian salmon.

Cute if I opened him up,

and there was a Jap in there.

Fried Jap in tartar sauce.

I'll take mine boiled in oil.

I'll go down and get him.

Lieutenant Raymond. McCary.

Welcome aboard.

- Thank you.

- Come up, meet the captain.

Thanks.

Lieutenant Raymond reporting.

- Glad to have you aboard.

- Glad to be aboard.

Ready on one and two.

You already know McCary.

- Yes, sir. We've met.

- How was your trip?

It was pretty rough.

Is my aerology gear aboard?

Under lock and key.

If you'll go below, we'll arrange

for your berthing later.

- I'd like to get this ship out of here.

- Yes, sir.

How do I get below? I've never

been aboard a submarine before.

There's the hatch. It goes down.

Yes, sir.

Hey! Bear a hand. I got a bite.

Planes approaching, dead astern!

Jap float Zeros.

All ahead full!

Ten degrees right rudder!

Commence firing!

Get him smack in the teeth!

Unexploded bomb forward!

We ought to be diving.

Got six fathoms under us.

Got to get on.

Coming in low! Get down!

Good work, Wolf!

- Is he hurt badly?

- I think so, sir.

There he goes.

If that Nip doesn't get out of there,

he'll end up with a hot seat.

I could pop him off

with a clear conscience.

He looks awful lonesome up there.

Okay.

The unexploded bomb is wedged

in the superstructure.

Let's have a look at it.

Larry, take the watch.

Pick up that Jap aviator.

I want to question him.

We'll have to bring out

the cutting torches.

No time.

I'll get your pigeon for you.

Okay, Mike.

We'll put him to roost.

Looks like the war

is over for you, son.

Mike!

That's enough, kid.

Where's Mike?

Dakota is taking him below.

Mike looked up like he

wanted me to do something.

I just stood there.

Me too. It happened so fast.

We need a man to pull the teeth

of an unexploded bomb.

Volunteers to the control room.

Mike would be alive now

if I hadn't just stood there.

Stow it. These things happen every day.

If you want to take it out on somebody,

take it out on the Japs, not yourself.

Come on. Let's get out of here.

It boils down to a matter of thickness.

The bomb is wedged in a tight spot.

And neither the captain

or I can get to it.

Back home, they used to call me "Slim."

You'll do, "Slim."

Take this and that off.

Your volunteer, captain.

Know what you're volunteering for?

Yes, sir. The bomb.

It's wedged

under the superstructure.

That's not all.

That Jap may have radioed our position.

If planes come while we're down there...

...we'll have to drink a lot of water.

I'll go with you, captain.

Okay, Tommy. Get down below.

In case of another attack, take her down.

Aye, aye, sir.

Clear the decks. Diving stations!

Son...

...that bomb may be a dud

because the firing pin's fractured.

If it is, the slightest jar

will set it off.

So take it very easy.

Here. You'll need this web wrench.

Tell me when you reach the bomb,

but don't touch it.

- Reached the bomb.

- Don't touch it yet.

Look carefully around

the base of the fuse.

The bomb may be a booby trap,

so it will blow up at the slightest touch.

Do you see any hammer marks

or slight indentations?

- No, captain.

- All right.

Now, very carefully...

...feel the nose.

Can you feel any marks?

No marks, sir.

Very gently now...

...place the web wrench

around the fuse.

It unscrews counterclockwise.

Right to left.

You got that?

Yes, sir. It's in place.

- It unscrews left to right, sir.

- Right to left! Right to left!

I'm sorry, sir.

I heard you all right.

I repeated it wrong.

Right to left, sir.

I'm a little nervous.

Stop and take a breath.

You're doing fine.

Well, I guess Mike

got it quicker, that's all.

Shut up.

- Talking don't bother a bomb.

- It bothers me.

You know, Dakota, I once knew a dame

who had a temperament just like a bomb.

Laugh? No laugh.

Start unscrewing it gently.

Just use gradual pressure.

Right to left.

- Right.

- Easy.

Easy. Just loosen it.

- I've loosened it, sir.

- Now, carefully...

...remove the wrench.

Turn the fuse by hand.

Easy.

Very, very gently, son.

Easy does it.

Got "made in U.S.A." stamped on it.

The appeasers' contribution

to the war effort.

Take it and stew it, Cookie.

Adams, you did a fine job.

You earned yourself a higher rating.

Thank you, sir.

You got a great pair

of shoes to fill, Tommy.

One kid's shoe.

And one pipe...

...stem broken.

That completes the inventory.

Mike was a first-class

torpedoman...

...in more ways than one.

Where's the kid?

He went aft. He feels kind of low.

Wonder if we should have told

the exec about that package...

...that Mike used to keep under his sack.

- What package?

Well...

...every time he borrowed

Yo Yo's office...

...he took it along with him.

Hey, maybe it's one

of them censored records.

Say, we could do with a laugh.

I thought Mike was acting

secret when he used to come in here.

Hello, honey.

I hope you play this record

once in a while while you're away.

It'll mean you're missing

me like I miss you...

... from the moment you shove off,

every single time.

Have I ever told you how much those

homecoming bear hugs mean to me, Mike?

Gosh, darling, you could break

all my ribs, having you back is so good.

The kids miss you and make believe

you're at the table each night.

I don't think they know

what being married 10 years...

... to a sweet guy like you is like.

I do, thank God.

Means you've made me

the happiest woman alive.

I hope I've made you happy, Mike.

I always tried my darnedest...

... because I love you...

... with every bit of my heart.

"And whilst we consign...

...his remains to the deep...

...we the living

pray thee heavenly Father...

...to grant him eternal peace

and rest...

...through Christ Jesus, our Lord."

Amen.

Why weren't you up there?

I got no use for burials.

Oh, coffee's more important, huh?

- You don't think I care he's dead?

- Why didn't you come up?

- Sorry for that Jap?

- Shut up! I don't take that from nobody!

I'm surprised at you guys, all of you.

You ought to have

sense enough not to get...

...such dumb ideas!

- I told you, I had my reasons.

- Bilge!

Look.

I had an uncle lived

in the old country, see.

A real high-class guy, not like me.

You know what he was?

He was a teacher of philosophy.

To be that in Greece,

the home of philosophy...

...you got to be A-number-one smart,

and that was my uncle.

So they killed him, them Nazis.

They stood him up against the wall.

You know why?

Because he had brains.

Because everybody's got to be their slave.

Them that won't, like my uncle, they kill.

My old man was no good.

He was a boozer.

He died in bed having the D.T.'s.

But my uncle,

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