In Harm's Way Page #4

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Dinner with Commander Neal Owynn.

Thanks, but I'm waiting for a friend.

You're more than welcome

to bring her, or him, along.

Well, if my friend

arrives in time, we'll see.

I'm here to see a nurse.

What are you here for?

To see a nurse.

Seems like we have

something in common after all.

I'm just a chip off the old block, sir.

- Hello.

- Miss Haynes.

Captain Torrey.

Ensign Annalee Dorne.

- Miss Dorne.

- You've met my friend.

Sir, I've invited Miss Haynes and friend

to dine with Cdr. Owynn.

- I hope you'll accept.

- That's very gracious of you.

But we have other plans.

Right, Lieutenant?

Yes, sir.

- In that case...

- Good afternoon.

Miss Dorne.

- You run a taut ship.

- He's not a bad-looking kid, is he?

No, he isn't.

Oh... I brought you something.

- What is it?

- Candy.

Candy...! Thank you.

- Shall we eat at the Chinaman's?

- No.

We're going to eat here,

if you don't mind.

- I wouldn't want to...

- Please!

I haven't cooked for a man

in a long time.

Pour us a drink.

If I can get this oven hot enough,

we're gonna have biscuits.

- Want water in yours?

- Yes, but don't drown the whisky.

I'm not a lady.

I started life as an army brat

and never tried to change.

Here's how.

- Did you say Army?

- My father was a one-star general.

Daddy... He was an angel

and a devil and I was nuts about him.

So nuts, in fact, that I married his aide.

Would you open this can for me?

You married his aide?

- He wasn't much of a man.

- This cutter's broken.

Not very smart or very brave.

Maybe I expected him to be Daddy

and he wasn't.

That's quite a knife you carry.

Can opener, screwdriver, punch,

straight blade, even a skinning blade.

That is useful. What do you skin?

Lieutenant nurses who pull my leg.

- Where was I?

- Just married.

Yes. I left him, right here in Honolulu,

shacked up with a wahine from Kauai.

That was eight years ago.

He quit the service and married her.

I drifted till I had to latch onto something

or go down the drain.

I went to nursing school

and joined the Navy.

- Now I'd like to know more about you.

- Navy.

My father was a chief petty officer

and I went to the Academy.

- That the best you can do?

- Unless you want my service record.

There's your son...

Aloha.

- Hi!

- Hello, Jere. Just the two of you?

- Miss Haynes couldn't come.

- I'm sure it's my loss.

- Cdr. Owynn, meet Ensign Dorne.

- What a beautiful place.

I'm afraid my friend

didn't leave much liquor

when he decided to

sit the war out on the mainland.

I can give you a choice of... Pernod...

...and gin... Oh, yes,

there is a little brandy.

- Brandy for me.

- Miss Dorne?

I don't know...

Gin, I guess, but not much.

Gin, but not much.

My unit got orders today.

We're being assigned to ComSoPacSub

Area 3, whatever that is.

Commander Third Sub Area,

South West Pacific.

Sounds very impressive.

- Have you been alerted?

- No, just assigned.

Third Area is

Admiral Broderick's command.

- Jere's Admiral?

- The same.

Can't get away from the Torreys, can I?

We can sit down.

- Hey!

- We're alone.

- Where's Commander Owynn?

- It's OK.

Dinner is ready.

- Aren't we waiting for Cdr. Owynn?

- He was called to Headquarters.

I guess it's just the two of us.

- Ever hear the name Cunliffe?

- An expensive New England name.

She was a Cunliffe, Jere's mother.

I met her at a Navy ball, 1917.

She was beautiful.

I don't know why she married me.

- I was just an ensign.

- I bet you were something as an ensign!

I fell over my feet most of the time.

When I came back from the war,

I had a son.

And the Cunliffes

had great plans for me.

I was to resign

my commission in the Navy

and do something useful,

the stock market.

They sat with teacups on their laps

and ticker tape coming out of their ears

and I said "No".

It was quite a scene.

Then Athalie -

that was her name, Athalie -

said, "Rockwell,

I will not become a camp follower.

"Whenever you're not busy boating

with the Navy, feel free to visit us. "

And that's the way it was. I visited.

I was assigned to duty in the Philippines

and that ended it.

You left out one small detail.

You were terribly in love with her.

You're a good cook, Maggie.

And you look lovely in the candlelight.

- You haven't had much to say.

- I guess I haven't.

- Would you like to dance?

- I don't think so.

Come sit over here.

- Please don't.

- What's the matter?

We'd better go home.

I don't like this, any of it.

- Since when?

- Since your commander disappeared.

I didn't know you missed him so much.

I'm jealous!

You know what I mean.

It makes me feel cheap.

Take it easy!

He won't be back for a long time.

I'm sorry, Jere, but I want to go.

- Think I'm an idiot?

- What?

- Nothing's cheaper than a teaser.

- What?

- Isn't that what you've been doing?

- I have not!

I thought we... I thought you...

- Wait a minute!

- Let me go!

I've spent my life learning about men

and ships and how to use them in action.

I just don't fit behind a desk, I...

...I'm not cut out for it,

I feel dry-docked.

- Oh, well.

- Thanks.

Thanks?

Who else have you said

these things to recently? Or ever?

- That'll be Annalee and your son.

- Oh, I'd better...

- Thanks, fellas.

- You're welcome.

I think that had to happen.

Goodnight, Rock.

Goodnight, Maggie.

- Any time, Rock. Any time at all.

- Thank you, Maggie.

Yeah, go ahead and I'll be there.

- Sir, Cdr. Powell is waiting for you.

- Thanks.

- Greetings!

- What are you so happy about?

This... Want to close that door?

I have a very private little job for you,

no one but you.

Three convoys to be routed

to this island, Toulebonne.

- Paul Eddington is stationed there.

- It's Broderick's new base.

Skyhook again, huh?

Here's the shipping list.

- A lot of tonnage.

- Hard to come by.

CinCPac wants it all to arrive

on time and intact.

The first convoy is loaded,

personnel go on board Thursday,

when they shove off is up to you.

I think I see it.

See what?

Skyhook.

All right.

Jap supply lines must be spread out

pretty thin south of Cape Titan.

So Broderick could hit

Lalatea, Muk or Gavabutu.

From any of those islands,

he could launch a strike against...

- ... Levu-Vana.

- Why Levu-Vana?

It has a central plain

large enough for B-17 airstrips.

Get B-17 s in there and we can control

1,000 miles in any direction.

Goodnight.

- Maggie!

- Hello, sailor!

Pleasant surprise.

You're not easy to talk to on the phone,

so I decided to ambush you.

Come in.

- This is nice.

- Sit down.

- Can I offer you a drink?

- No, nothing. Thanks.

My unit is to report to Ford Island

in the morning at six.

We weren't told any more

but it can only mean one thing.

You'll be at sea by noon.

- Did you know I was going?

- I knew there was a convoy pulling out.

Any hint about our destination?

You know I can't say.

You'll be told after you sail.

- Is it a long way?

- Long way.

Then we won't meet again

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