Fire Down Below Page #6

Lieutenant?

Slowly going out of control, Tony.

How long do you give it?

Twelve hours,

give or take a few minutes.

Youre an officer and a gentleman.

Always the straight dope, huh?

- Always the straight dope.

- Lieutenant, were all set here.

Okay, I'll tell you when to start.

Now, look, Im gonna start the jacks

and the winches going.

All we have to do is raise

this girder 3, 4 inches.

If you feel it lifting, try to get

your legs out by yourself, got it?

- WI'll do.

- And if things start falling, cover up.

- What wI'll you do?

- I'll sing the "'MMarine Hymn. "'

Okay, lets go.

All right, start them!

Hold it!

Nothing doing, lieutenant.

All right, slack off.

There goes your ball game,

lieutenant.

- Not yet.

- Straight dope?

The straight dope.

We cant get you out this way, Tony.

Well have to try putting in more jacks

with a different rig, but it'lll take time.

My time is your time.

Im gonna start my boys working from

the outside with acetylene torches.

I dont think we'lll have time enough

to reach you, Tony, but we'lll try.

Where does this leave me,

sitting here frying?

Sitting there frying.

Doc, could you perform

an operation down here?

Get out of here, both of you.

I know what youre thinking.

Youll get me out, all right. You'lll get

half of me out! Leave me alone!

If youre gonna get me out,

you get me out in one piece.

Otherwise, keep away from me!

- Think about it, Tony.

- Peddle your wheelchairs elsewhere!

Okay, I'll start the boys

with the torches right away.

Doc, you stop sucking around me,

and if you come near me...

...with one needle, I'll brain you,

so help me I wI'll.

I wont touch you. Tony, isn't there

somebody you want to talk to?

No!

Have you seen this picture before?

Yeah, the lady is my aunt Clara...

...and the man is my

Sunday-school teacher...

...and the colored gentleman

played second base...

...when I managed

the New York Giants.

Ever see that before?

Yeah, they gave them out as favors

at a strawberry festival I once went to.

Now, dont be so tough, Tony.

We want to help you.

Help me? You want to make

a half a man out of me.

- We want to keep you alive.

- I dont like the terms. It's no deal.

You come back when you

can make a better offer.

And keep out of my locker

from now on!

- I'll be back to see you again soon.

- Don't hurry on my account.

Boatswain, get more men

pitching those acetylene bottles.

- Howd you make out?

- I tried to talk him into it...

...but he wouldnt have it.

Its the only way you'rre gonna

get him out of there.

What do you think?

My job is to get him

out of there alive if I can.

Thats all, I think.

My job is to keep as much

of the human race as possible...

...alive as long as possible.

What would you do

if you were in there?

Me? Id say, "'CCut away, doc. "'

Ive lots to live for,

I got a wife and two kids.

Maybe hes got nobody.

Hes got somebody. A boy like that's

bound to have somebody.

- Well, they better turn up real fast.

- Yes.

Hey, boatswain,

we havent got all day.

Lets get some more men up here.

Is that boy gonna be

all right, Dr. Sam?

Sure.

They gonna get that boy

out of there, Dr. Sam?

- Whats your name?

- What difference what's my name?

- Well, you know mine.

- Everybody knows Dr. Sam.

Jimmy Jean.

- Do you want to help that boy in there?

- Might be.

- Like a drink?

- Might be.

Right.

Chief, clear more room

on the pier for drums.

Well, thats the way it was.

You asked me why that boy

might be arriving on this island...

...with a gun in his locker.

I guess you got as much

of an answer as you need.

What about Felix, is he here?

- And the girl?

- Shes here too, with him.

Youre coming with me, Jimmy Jean.

- Where to, doc?

- Do you know where Felix is?

- Yes, I do, doc.

- Right.

Monsieur, its no good.

The fire is completely out of control.

This ship of mine is going to blow up.

We have got to take her

out of the dock.

Come on, you men. Get more stages

fixed to get those barrels down.

Get those gasoline drums out

before the fire reaches them.

Boatswain, push that guy

up on the winch.

Lieutenant! Lieutenant.

- Lieutenant.

- Come on, you men.

Dont act like a bunch of flakes.

Get those drums hove to.

Jones, lend them a hand.

Listen, lieutenant, we cant

give you any more time.

Weve waited too long as it is.

I want to save the boy

as much as anyone does...

...but that ship is likely to blow up any

second. Get your men out of there.

Im ordering her to be pulled out

into the middle of the roadstead...

...where she can explode without

blowing up the whole town with her.

You understand my position,

lieutenant, dont you?

Yes. Yes, of course.

Look, give me 15 more minutes.

- What good wI'll 15 more minutes do?

- Were putting in another jack.

- Do you think it wI'll work?

- No, but we have to try.

But Im telling you,

it's likely to go up any second.

Are you wI'lling to go

in there and risk it?

All right, forget about yourself.

I know thats your privilege.

- But are you wI'lling to risk your men?

- If I pull them out of there now...

...I'll be marked lousy from one

end of the service to the other.

Navies!

I suppose a man has to be a lunatic in

the first place, anyway, to join a navy.

All right, 15 minutes. Im crazy,

I say yes. And not a second more.

And Im going to stand right here.

If it blows, I want to blow with it.

I dont want to be around

to answer any questions later.

Go! Go ahead, man.

Dont stand there looking at me...

...with that sad, accusing American

face of yours. Im tired of it.

Polaski, bring up more jacks

for the forward hold.

Hi, lieutenant.

Youre stI'll bucking for admiral, huh?

- Yeah.

- Came in the back door this time.

We opened it up, just in case

you want to get out in a hurry.

Yeah, just in case.

Now, listen, were gonna make

one more try with the jacks.

They might work, but if things begin

to tumble around in here...

...and I cant reach you,

that's the best way out.

Okay.

This is the last try, Tony.

Theyre gonna tow this barge

out in the middle of the roadstead.

- And if she goes up...

- I know.

You havent...?

Havent changed your mind

about anything?

No.

Were all ready, lieutenant.

Say when, sir.

All right.

Start them.

Last one.

Someday Im gonna

give up cigarettes.

Me too.

Well, I guess thats it.

Thats it.

Now hear this. Now hear this.

Towing crew, stand by.

All others, abandon ship immediately.

Abandon ship immediately.

Towing crew, stand by.

All others, abandon ship

immediately. Immediately.

Im sorry, kid.

I seen a lot of guys.

I was in the Battle of Leyte Gulf.

I spent 10 hours

in the water in the war.

One thing Id want to have.

Been carrying it for 12 years.

Insurance.

Now hear this. Now hear this.

Cast off all lines.

Just St. George and Navy tug 233

proceed immediately...

...in accordance with instructions.

In accordance with instructions.

Were going for a little ride, dear.

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