Destination Tokyo Page #6

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- The leaders were assassinated.

- What of the people?

They have no voice now.

Starvation is the big stick.

That's right, sir.

A big wage is $ 7 a week.

They have no unions,

no free press, nothing.

- They do what they're told.

- Most believe what they're told.

Like that hero

who knifed your torpedoman.

- They've been sold a swindle and accept it.

- How can they support such big families?

They don't. Daughters of the poor

are often sold to factories or worse...

...when they're about 12.

Females are useful there only to work

or to have children.

The Japs don't understand

the love we have for our women.

They don't even have a word for it.

Picking up something directly aft, captain.

Bearing, 180.

- All stop. Up scope.

- All answering stopped, sir.

Sounds like a cruiser limping in,

destroyers escorting.

She's a heavy cruiser, deep in the water,

coming home sick, destroyers for nurses.

- Down scope.

- Dead duck, captain?

Live duck. No torpedoes.

This is our ticket to the feeding grounds.

- Range on cruiser, soundman.

- 4200 yards, sir.

Should be tugs coming to help her.

Surge ahead, entrance to Tokyo Bay.

Aye, aye, sir.

Picking up several ships, sir,

confused sound. Maybe three, maybe four.

Good.

- Ten degrees dive on bow planes.

- Ten degrees on bow planes.

- All ahead one-third.

- The Japs don't know it...

...but they've sent us an invitation.

- All answering ahead one-third, sir.

Blow negative.

- Close negative flood.

- Negative flood closed.

- Zero bubble.

- Zero bubble.

That cruiser's probably picking up

a plane escort overhead.

- You figure we're right here, huh?

- And the minefields will start in there.

They're a cinch to have a sounding device

to detect uninvited guests like us.

Small ships passing over, sir.

And making so much noise

their destroyers can't hear us.

"Live duck," he says.

Did you guys hear the skipper say

that we're not firing any torpedoes?

He said our mission was Tokyo Bay. Okay,

we're here. What are we doing, sightseeing?

What's the matter, Tommy?

Scared with all the company over us?

I'm not scared, yet.

Tugboats have contacted

cruiser and destroyers.

- A description of what we ain't sinking!

- Shut up.

- It's a free country!

- Not where we're sitting, it ain't.

Right in the Nips' birdbath.

Attention, all hands.

We're going to take a chance following

this cruiser through the minefields.

From now on, normal talking is okay,

but be careful of striking metal on metal.

You all know sound travels

far and clear underwater...

... especially when it's being sucked in by

Jap listening devices above us or onshore.

It's essential that we get

as near to Tokyo as possible.

In addition to mines,

there's certainly a submarine net ahead...

... just waiting for screwballs like us.

The cruiser will be passing any minute.

They'll lower the gate to let her through.

I'm banking on the tugs and cruiser to keep

our motor sound from being picked up.

Stand by. Keep on your toes. Soundman?

Cruiser's starting to pass overhead.

- All ahead two-thirds, steady as you go.

- All ahead two-thirds, steady as you go.

- How's their speed?

- Slowed a few rpms, captain.

Good. That helps us.

Bearing zero.

Bring her up to 55 feet, keel depth.

Anything I can do, sir?

You can join us in holding our breath.

We're trying this on for size.

- Can we hug the cruiser any closer?

- We're just about kissing her now, sir.

If we kiss her bottom,

we get an ashcan right down our neck.

Bearing zero.

Picking up gate vessels off both beams.

We're approaching their submarine net,

Mr. Raymond.

Men, you may all join me

in a silent prayer.

They may not lower the net enough.

We got to take a chance.

Plane up to 45 feet, keel depth.

Attention, all hands.

That bottom you're feeling

is well inside Tokyo Bay.

We'll spend the rest of our first day here

as guests of the lmperial Japanese Navy.

Say, Tommy,

are you sure you feel all right?

Don't think I'd get sick

in the bottom of Tokyo Bay?

lt'll be dark upstairs soon.

We'll surface to charge batteries.

I can ask the exec

to let you have some air on the bridge.

No, thanks.

I'm all right, honest.

Aye, aye, sir.

Hey, Wolf, captain wants you

in his stateroom right away.

Now what have I done?

Skipper probably wants information

on Japanese dames.

Yes, sir?

Wolf, how would you like

a little shore leave?

- When, sir?

- Tonight.

- Tonight?

- Sit down.

- Sit down.

- Yes, sir.

Wolf, you've been with me

on five patrols.

I've watched you under fire.

You don't scare easy.

I'm gonna ask you to do something. You

can turn it down. It won't go any further.

- Well, just give me the orders, captain.

- This isn't an order.

If you go, you go voluntarily.

You might not come back.

It has to do with why we haven't betrayed

our position by sinking ships.

Yes, sir?

We're putting three men ashore

to obtain vital data.

- That's why we're here.

- I'll go, captain.

Good. Come with me, Wolf.

- Hi, Sparks.

- Hi, Wolf.

- Here's your other volunteer.

- Glad to have you with me.

- Thank you, sir.

- Forget the "sir" stuff. There won't be time.

Well, let's get down to facts.

Under the command of Admiral Halsey,

our aircraft carriers...

...the Hornet and the Enterprise left

the United States two weeks after we did.

They've followed our course.

At the present time,

they're approaching this position.

The purpose of this combined operation

is the first bombing of Japan.

Sit down.

Lieutenant Raymond

will tell you your mission.

The bombing planes must have information

necessary to a successful operation.

The weather, shore installations...

...barrage balloon positions and the number

and location of Japanese ships in the bay.

We'll get that information to them

by radio.

After you men are ashore, the Copperfin

will proceed as near as possible to Tokyo.

We'll obtain data

that our fliers need on that city.

- That information will be transferred to you.

- Pardon me, sir...

...but how will we know our way around?

- I was raised in Japan.

We've chosen a spot

that I know very well.

- Isn't the coastline one city after another?

- No.

Actually, it's very similar

to that of California.

The spot we've picked is a lonely one.

This special clothing

has been provided for you.

- Anything wrong, sir?

- Oh, no.

We always dim the lights

45 minutes before we surface.

It allows our eyes to get accustomed

to the darkness.

If you should run into any geisha girls

on any porches just out of any bathtubs...

...don't pick any roses.

Shore party to the conning tower.

- Good luck, Wolf.

- Don't forget that bottle of sake.

Give the emperor a boot for me, will you?

See that Nita doesn't get lonesome

while I'm gone.

Be good.

- So long, guys.

- So long, Wolf.

- Ready to go, sir.

- Stand by in the conning tower, Wolf.

- Aye, aye, sir.

- Send us a postcard, kid.

- Happy landings, fella.

- Lot of luck, pal.

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