Gold Page #5

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The third worry is Manfred

comes home on Saturday.

We still have five days.

That was a fancy goal

you made today, Jimmy.

Are we going through

the big dyke tonight?

You wouldn't want Kowalski

to get to that gold before us.

I want to tell Manfred

when he gets back.

I thought you might.

You don't want me to.

Yes.

Yes, I want you to. I'm bored

with being general manager.

I thought perhaps

if I told Pops...

He'd wave his wand and overnight

I'd become Manfred Steyner.

No, not that.

Don't you worry.

Somehow, we will manage.

You promise?

Promise.

- What do you say we do six blasts?

- Okay, but we need more dynamite.

Go down to the station

and get three cases.

Maybe we'll go through

and put Kowalski out of work.

Yes, sir.

What are you doing?

Watch out!

Watch out!

Look out!

Help me!

Son of a b*tch!

Let's get going

before the rush starts.

All right.

You get started.

Sorry, go on.

All right.

Come on, get down there.

Do they have to walk that slow?

It's a slow game.

Relax.

What the hell is it?

The alarm came from 80 station,

but there's nobody there.

Water.

A flood through the dyke.

Here you are.

Your off, Hurry.

Hey, where are you off to?

I've got trouble.

Get somebody else.

Reports are coming in

of an underground disaster

at the Sonderditch mine.

Full details are not known,

but at least a 1000 men

are believed to be underground.

We'll bring you more details

as soon as we have them.

It's happened.

It's on the radio.

I just heard it.

What happened?

It came in through the dyke.

The dyke?

They were drilling there.

What's going on?

We can't figure it out.

Tex must've had special instructions

from Slater.

Where's Slater?

Nobody knows.

Put a radio call in for Slater.

It'll take about four hours

to flood up to 70 level.

We lose the whole mine.

Yes, and the men.

How many?

About a thousand.

We interrupt this program

to air an urgent message.

Will Rodney Slater,

the general manager

of the Sonderditch mines,

report immediately to the mine.

We again interrupt this program

to air an urgent message

for Mr. Rodney Slater...

Suppose he hears that.

It wouldn't make any difference.

If they're where I think they are,

it's two hours back and another two

from the airport to the mine.

All right, get the car.

I don't want to miss the finale.

That Slater is a maniac.

You mean, we can't lift a finger

to save this whole mine?

We can save the top levels

by blasting at 78 level,

but that's the end

for anyone alive down there.

How much time have we got?

Three hours at the outside.

Keep broadcasting for Slater.

Fried or scrambled?

Raw.

Raw?

Yes. Better than oysters.

You know why?

Because eggs get laid.

Never hit a man

with an egg in his hand.

I'll swear to God I'll drop it.

Rodney Slater, general manager

of the Sonderditch mine.

Mr. Rodney Slater, general manager

of the Sonderditch mine

to report there at once.

It's now feared over a 1000 men

are trapped by the flooding.

Large scale rescue attempts...

Bastard.

MINE DISASTER:

GOLDEN BOOM, SHARES RUSH

AS GOLD HITS RECORD PRICE

Foxtrot Charlie to controller.

Are you receiving me?

Foxtrot Charlie, Johannesburg 95,

go ahead.

This is Rod Slater, general manager

of the Sonderditch.

You've got to get a message

to the mine.

To Jackson, chief electrician.

Tell him the safety device

is operating on yellow circuit D.

Repeat, yellow circuit D.

Foxtrot Charlie, yellow circuit D.

Roger, will do. Over.

Repeat, vital.

Over and out.

I've got to give them

my landing instructions.

To hell with the airfield.

Take me to the mine direct.

You're crazy.

I couldn't land on the mine.

Another excuse to keep me away.

Just what the hell

is that supposed to mean?

You got me out of the way.

You bastard!

I'll stick you right down

on your bloody mine.

...is fading for many of the men

who've been trapped underground

in what's becoming the biggest

disaster in South African mining.

There go stretchers

with the few souls

snatched literally

from a watery grave.

A message, sir.

...where we are standing now,

in savage contrast to the blue sky,

men are fighting for their lives

as the subterranean passages...

That's the end.

I've beaten him.

That's why I've got to see it.

What's on circuit D yellow?

What have you got?

Nothing shows up.

Maybe Rod has got some crazy system.

Pull it anyway.

Like I said, nothing shows.

The South Africa Reserve Bank

has issued a statement

urging foreign governments

to stand firm

until the extent of the disaster

is known.

But this did not deter

speculators

from moving in and forcing

gold prices to record levels.

We now commence our on-the-spot

report from the Sonderditch mine.

Experts have confirmed

that neighboring mines

are being threatened

by the rising flood water.

The chairman,

the legendary Hurry Hirschfield

is directing rescue operations.

I'll have a word with him.

Mr. Hirschfield, can you tell me

your plans on how to rescue the men?

There's nothing I can say

except we're doing everything we can.

Nothing more?

We're doing everything we can!

What do you want me to say?

The situation is tense

and nerves grow tense

as the hours tick away

here at the Sonderditch mine.

Stay tuned to this station

for further developments.

That's Terry's plane.

It's the only place to land,

the road.

Haven't you said enough

for one day?

She wants to land.

Clear the road!

Clear the road!

All right, clear the road!

Clear the road there.

Get back everybody, please!

Clear this road, please!

Hurry up.

You didn't think of that.

It's too late.

He can't do anything.

He's too late.

What have you got

to say now, big mouth?

Thanks.

Happy New Year.

You maniac!

You've drowned hundreds of men!

Did you pull the safety?

And nothing happened.

Kowalski cut the safety circuits

this morning.

What were you doing down there?

"Tex said, " " Orders came

from Mr. Steyner. "

You know where it was cut?

I'm going down,

will you come?

Yes, I'll come.

Glover, get me a rubber dinghy

from the emergency stores.

Jackson, I want a battery igniter,

pliers, gloves, emergency tools.

Right.

- Move it up.

- Give me a hand with this gear.

Let's get going.

It's not a bloody circus.

Pops, you can't let him

go down there. He'll get killed.

Best thing that can happen to him.

Provided he saves the mine first.

Climb down from the 79 level.

Work our way around

until we find the broken circuit.

If it's not under water already.

A dramatic last resort attempt

by general manager, Rod Slater,

to save the trapped men.

We'll bring you more details

as soon as we have them.

Once upon a time, Sally,

a three year old who liked sweets,

but not brushing her teeth,

lost her first tooth.

She put it under her pillow,

but instead of five cents

the fairies left...

World news is brought to you

at 11 o'clock by the Radio Tobacco

Corporation of New York.

We'll connect the battery igniter,

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