In Harm's Way Page #7

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been instructed in security?

They'll be instructed, Captain.

You may return to your duties.

Aye, aye, sir.

I'm sure you boys realise

that you're not to file any stories

until Cdr. Owynn gives you the word.

Now, back to Operation Apple Pie.

Carry on.

Lieutenant, do you have any idea

how Broderick knows these details?

I'm afraid not, sir.

You wouldn't know about Owynn sending

special dispatches to Toulebonne?

I wouldn't, sir.

I don't know about you and your father

but let me tell you this:

bums like your friend Owynn

are with us always, like bad weather.

But sailors like your old man

only happen once in a while.

I'm afraid I cannot accept

your evaluation of Cdr. Owynn.

I cannot accept you

as Rock Torrey's son.

- I think somebody got in ahead of him.

- Now, wait a minute, Eddington!

Captain Eddington.

Yes?

It's all right, Captain.

On your feet.

- Lieutenant! You can head for the barn.

- OK, sir!

Change of orders

from the old man himself, by God.

We'll romp this circus straight on.

Last man to Voyon Bay's a bloody 'roo!

Sorry, chums, kangaroo to you.

Baker D, don't move in on road Z-2,

it's landmined.

It's moving so fast we can't keep up.

The admiral wants you to meet

our war correspondents.

I can't tell 'em anything.

Where's the admiral?

- He's with them.

- Say I'll join him as soon as I can.

Roger, Baker D. Keep pushing. Out.

We've had some luck.

Canfil should join Gregory soon.

Joined already.

Cutting across to meet the amphibs.

- Let me see those dispatches.

- Attention!

Carry on, gentlemen.

We were getting anxious about you.

Very courageous,

going out on the firing line.

But risky leaving command centre

at zero hour.

- I think it served its purpose.

- I'm sure it did.

- Shall we give the boys a rundown?

- Might be better in private, sir.

The press is not against us.

Give them a break.

- If you insist.

- Fire away, boys.

Admiral Torrey, is the operation

going according to schedule?

- Not exactly.

- We can be more specific than that.

After all, an offensive

doesn't travel like an express train.

Fact is, it's going to be a long, hard job

kicking the enemy off Gavabutu.

No reason why we shouldn't admit it.

We can project schedules,

but they're hard to keep.

- Right, Admiral?

- Right, sir.

Except we're not behind schedule,

we're ahead of it.

Our troops should be

taking the Jap airstrip

and our amphibs closing on Voyon Bay.

- But the enemy opposition...

- There is none.

The Japs moved out last night.

- The island's ours?

- Yes.

- When did you learn this?

- Why did they pull out?

- I think that about covers it for now.

- That it does.

Wait, we want to know

something about this...

Admiral, would you

check these dispatches

and advise me on

how we should mop this up?

Yes, certainly.

Use the staff room to write your stories.

I will see to it that your stories get out,

if Cdr. Owynn doesn't mind.

- That old man of yours crossed us.

- Yes, didn't he!

Gentlemen...

We must have a conference with

the admiral before he goes tomorrow.

- The admiral's leaving?

- He feels everything is shipshape.

Gottlieb, Tuthill.

Heads.

Goodbye, Commander. Enjoy it.

What did he mean by that?

- Aren't you going with Broderick?

- No.

- I think you are.

- Now, wait a...

You'd better be on that plane

unless you want to die on Gavabutu.

- You can't do this...

- I am doing it.

We've got a job here

and no one is going to screw it up.

Understand?

And take this punk with you.

I'll have him court-martialled.

You saw it, I didn't hit him back.

- I didn't see anything.

- What do you mean you didn't see?

As far as I'm concerned,

a coconut hit you on the mouth.

You'd better figure out an excuse

to get us on that plane.

Want a transfer back to PT boats?

One word from me to Broderick

and you're on your way.

Say the word.

Well, here we are, gentlemen.

The marines are soaking their feet

in Voyon Bay.

- The airstrip?

- Planes are landing on it.

- This operation's picked clean.

- We're already picking another one.

This one's tougher.

You're just in time to help.

- Right here.

- Levu-Vana.

We need details of the Jap build-up.

Air photos don't show much.

We thought your coastwatchers

could give us a hand.

Why not have a submarine

take me there? I know that island.

Just give me a week to creep up on them

and I'll blueprint the Jap positions.

- We wouldn't want to lose you.

- I don't plan to get lost.

Watch for my signal nightly

between midnight and 3 a. m.

OK. Good luck.

- Special reason for delivering mail?

- Sort of.

- OK. Don't let it keep you too long.

- Thanks.

Hello, marine.

- Been having any difficulty breathing?

- No.

- Hi.

- Hello.

Jere! We heard you'd been

transferred back to the boats.

- Congratulations or commiserations?

- Congratulations.

- Looking for the mail room?

- In a roundabout way.

- I'll show you where it is.

- Thank you.

- Nice to see you again, ma'am.

- Same to you.

Come on, get over here.

Sir, there's no telling when

we might ship together again,

and me and the boys took a vote.

We voted you best officer

to be marooned on a desert island with.

- Thanks, Boats.

- We mean it, sir, all kiddin' aside.

Goodbye, Culpepper... Goodbye, Al.

Mac! Mac!

- They didn't tell me you were hurt.

- It wasn't worth it.

- How'd you get here?

- They flew me from Pearl.

I've been waiting 10 days

for that slow boat of yours to come in!

God, you feel good to me.

I never gave you up, Mac,

not for one minute.

Here. A present for you

from Bureau of Personnel.

Lieutenant Commander McConnel.

That's wonderful!

Wait, have you already

been given an assignment...?

- Flag Secretary, Third Area.

- Back in that Gavabutu hellhole.

With Rock Torrey, not Broderick.

Torrey asked for me, Bev.

- Not right away! That wouldn't be fair.

- Not right away.

We've got 30 days survivors' leave.

- Any ideas what to do with them?

- Plenty of ideas!

I thought you wouldn't see Eddington

now you're back with Jere.

It's a picnic, there's a bunch going.

- But you'll be with Eddington?

- Probably.

- You're not wearing Jere's ring.

- It's too big. I might lose it.

- I see.

- I'll tell Eddington I'm engaged to Jere.

OK.

Maggie, I just wanna have a little fun.

Don't play games with Eddington.

Why don't you like him?

He's Torrey's best friend.

Instinct. He's got something bottled up

behind that dashing charm.

- What?

- I don't know.

But remember

the smiling young lady from Niger.

- Who?

- "The smiling young lady from Niger

"She rode on the back of a tiger

"And after the ride

She wound up inside

"With her smile on the face of the tiger. "

Maggie! I can take care of myself.

- Annie, are you ready?

- Just a sec!

- Who's the chaperone on this junket?

- I am.

- Oh, brother!

- I'll bring 'em back alive.

- Come on, they're at the pier!

- Bye, Maggie.

Have a good time.

Dorne!

Shouldn't we go back?

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