Don't Give Up the Ship Page #7

Oh, this must be Prudence.

And her mother.

It must? I mean it must. It is.

Well, John, aren't you going to

introduce us to the lovely lady?

Oh, she's not a lovely lady.

She's an Enson.

She's Enson Benson?

Why, yes, sweetheart. This is the

Enson that was working on me.

I mean I was working on her... no, what I

mean to say is we were working together.

Well, it hasn't all been drudgery, has it?

So, you're Enson Benson.

John has told me so...

so nothing about you.

Well, he's told me a lot about you

and he'll be all yours before long.

I'll phone our report in to Admiral Bludde.

What has she got? A twitch?

Why does she keep winking?

Oh, honey, she's just being

friendly, that's all.

A good guy, that Benson.

Well, what do you say we

go have some breakfast?

Goodbye, Lieutenant.

It's certainly has been

a pleasure having you

and the misses aboard.

Misses? You mean you two

actually did share a bedroom?

Oh, sweetheart, let me explain. It was

the only accommodation we can get.

Don't you understand? This is a

top military project. We just...

Oh, when I close my eyes I can

see your father standing here.

But he never told me a pip like this!

- John, how could you?

- It wasn't easy!

I've heard quite enough, Prudence.

I'm going back to Akron!

Uh!

- And I'm going with you!

- Prudence!

She was in a lower, I was in an upper.

I swear!

John, something terrible

has... has happened!

You're telling me.

Congressman Mandeville has found out that

the Admiral has been hiding you from him

and he's as mad as a hornet. He's moved

the hearing up to today. 10 A.M.!

C'mon.

Oh, what more could happen?

What more?

Now, son.

I'm taking Enson Benson's

word on your character.

Now, don't worry. I'll stick by you.

Oh, thank you very much, sir.

- But, it's not going to do you any good.

- No?

Mandeville's out for your blood.

During the war, he never

got higher than Ship's.

Cook 3rd class, and

he'll never forget it.

We better get inside, sir. Now,

Lieutenant, one last briefing.

Yes, sir.

When you face the committee whatever you

do, don't get flustered and don't panic.

Oh no, sir, I won't. I can handle it.

I won't pluster or fanic.

Easy, son.

Face it like a man.

Remember, you're Navy.

Yes, sir, I'm Mavy and I won't pluster

or fanic. How do you say that?

Oh, it's simple. Pluster or fanic.

Fanic or plust...

Never mind how you say it, just don't.

- No, I won't, sir.

- Let's get in there.

Good luck, John and keep a stiff upper lip.

Yeah, I will. I can't talk too good that

way, but if that's the way you want it.

I'm sorry, but the key isn't here.

Have you called the room?

I called the room and

there's no answer. I'm

telling you I gotta talk to Mrs.

Steckler.

Pardon me a moment.

Mother, I know I'm making the

wrong decision. John loves me.

If he did he'd have followed you here.

There she is now with her mother.

Oh, thanks a lot.

- Mrs. Steckler?

- Yes?

I'm Stan Wychinski. I was with your

husband on the ship that's missing.

The Kornblatt?

Uh, yes ma'am. That's what he came

down to Florida to see me about.

Then it was Navy business.

Oh, you bet.

Only last night, I couldn't

remember where it was.

And then when I did remember, he had left.

So, I beat it up here and now they

won't let me in at the hearing.

What hearing?

Down at the Capital.

I figured you're his wife so you

could get a message to him. You see?

A message about what?

The Kornblatt. I think I know where it is.

Mr. Wychinski, you're a doll! C'mon.

Oh, the side door. This way.

The hearing will come to order.

First, I would like to point out that

this is not a trial nor a court Marshall.

It is merely an investigation

into the mysterious

disappearance of a United

States naval vessel.

A destroyer escort.

Or was it subversion?

Espionage.

A foreign agent threatening

our nation's security.

I ask you.

Is that the face of an honest man?

I ask you.

I ask you.

That is what we're here to find out

in free and democratic process.

Do you want to come clean, Lieutenant?

Gentlemen, I am convinced that Lieutenant

Steckler is telling the truth.

And that he's just the victim

of unfortunate circumstances.

Ms. Benson, are you

quite sure this is

the Navy officer talking

and not the woman?

Yes, sir!

Isn't it true that you

and Lieutenant Steckler

shared a compartment

coming back from Florida?

- What, yes, but what' that got to do...

- That will be all Ms. Benson.

I promise you Admiral, I won't rest until

I see this man, Steckler, behind bars!

Get rid of those things,

they're driving me crazy!

That's the way the ball bounces.

This is no laughing matter, young man.

I want the United States protected

from your kind of criminal negligence.

Now, see here Congressman.

Lieutenant Steckler is a Naval officer and

I want him treated as a Naval officer!

If the Chief himself hadn't ordered

me to cooperate with this committee

I'd have hung up on your

very first phone call.

Don't take my part, sir.

Are you sure that's where the Kornblatt is?

Well...

I think I'm sure.

I mean...

Well, what's the difference?

What have we got to lose?

It's a long shot.

A gamble.

But, you're right. What

have we got to lose?

- I'll see if I can get an adjournment.

- Good deal.

I consider it my sacred

duty to dig through

all the lies and evasion

until I get the truth!

Congressman.

I'd like to request an

adjournment for 48 hours.

Prudence!

Where are you going?

That's my wife.

I'd like to request an

adjournment for 48 hours.

Who let those people in here?

This is a crime!

This is my wife, Prudence.

An adjournment for 43 hours!

Forget it. Forget it. Forget it!

Shake her hand.

I'm sorry I asked.

Hearing adjourned for 43 hours.

All I remember is, this Lieutenant J.G.

says to me

they'll be using the old girl for target

practice. She's going to a watery grave.

Yeah, well according to these old bombing

records, we ought to be right in the area.

Say, Cockson, head due west.

East?

I meant east.

Even if we do find a ship down there, we

still need evidence it's the Kornblatt.

Uh huh.

I'm dying!

Wychinski!

Stan!

Stuck!

What are you doing with

your head down there?

Get your head out of there!

Get your head out of there!

You are nuts.

Wow!

The Kornblatt!

You tapped my shoulder.

Back to work.

Okay.

Now wait a minute! Not!

Not!

Turn around! Turn around!

Octopus! Octopus!

Turn around! Turn around!

Turn around!

There's an octopus!

And I submit this bell,

gentlemen, as definite

proof that the Kornblatt

has been found.

Yes, it's all beginning

to come back to me now.

Congressman, may I borrow

your phone for a moment?

Oh, certainly.

I think the Chief himself might

know something about this.

Admiral Bludde, priority number 3-2-0.

Put me through to the Chief.

Chief? Lieutenant Steckler came through.

We found the Kornblatt.

Well, right where you left it, sir.

The deep six.

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