In Harm's Way Page #8

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You'll be in trouble with your chaperone.

With Sabrina? That's funny.

You're not afraid, huh?

Out here all alone with me.

Scared to death.

- The water looks delicious.

- The tide's out.

I'd love to go in for a dip.

- Go ahead.

- What would you think of me?

I'm an officer and a gentleman.

I wouldn't think.

Would you turn your back until I get in?

This is Tokyo Rose.

We dedicate the next record

to all those poor marines on Gavabutu.

You're going to be sacrificed

because Admiral Torrey

doesn't have enough ships or planes

to protect you.

But Torrey doesn't care

whether you live...

- Why can't they jam that?

- They don't want to.

The boys like the music.

She doesn't scare anybody.

Though she's pretty close

to being right sometimes.

- Like now?

- I said pretty close.

We're OK with what we have.

This is a backdoor operation.

The front's with General MacArthur.

That's where the Jap Navy

is occupied, not with us.

At least, that's the theory

we have to go on.

- No sugar!

- I'm sorry.

- Have you seen Jere?

- No.

I thought maybe you had.

His boat's been running the mail.

He and Annalee are on again.

He asked her to marry him after the war.

- A Cunliffe marry a commoner?

- His name isn't Cunliffe. It's Torrey.

- Yeah.

- It is, Rock.

- What are you getting at?

- Nothing.

He's changed. He isn't just

a smart college kid any longer.

Something's happened to him out here.

Well... I can't start

acting like a father now.

I threw that chance away 18 years ago

when I gave Jere up to his mother.

I wouldn't know how to talk to him or...

Paul!

Will you bring my clothes down?

- Put them down and turn your back.

- Not this time, baby.

- Paul, please!

- No, you'll have to come and get 'em.

OK, but you're gonna be surprised.

See? I might as well be

in a Mother Hubbard.

- You're beautiful.

- My clothes, please.

Paul, I'm not gonna let you kiss me.

I'm engaged. There's this boy...

Give me my clothes, please.

Let me go!

Let me go!

No! Let me go!

Let me go, Paul!

- Take her away.

- Aye, aye, sir.

Take in your lines. Get underway.

Quarterdeck to signal bridge.

Admiral's party approaching.

Good old Swayback.

- She looks like a real lady.

- She is a real lady.

It's a nice sentimental gesture,

CinCPac sending your old cruiser.

- A battleship might be more comforting.

- I'm glad to see her.

You don't understand the love affairs

between ships and sailors.

What happened to your face?

Bucking for a Purple Heart?

Just a friendly wound.

On deck. Intention to board.

Bosun's mate, man the side.

- Congratulations on your command.

- Welcome home.

- They did a good job.

- She's in fine shape.

- Hello.

- Good to see you.

- Congratulations.

- Tuthill, my Operations Officer.

Shall we adjourn to the ward-room?

Attention, gentlemen!

At ease. Sit down, gentlemen.

We'll dispense with all formalities.

- This is my flagship in the operation.

- Thank you, sir.

Now, I'll turn you over

to Captain Eddington.

He'll lay out the plan of operation for you.

This is what it boils down to.

The Japs have Levu-Vana.

We want it. They know it.

We're going to take it, and they'll do

their worst to keep us from taking it.

We can't expect any outside help.

We're it.

Mr Canfil. Excuse us, gentlemen.

- I hope you don't mind my interrupting.

- Sit down, we were worried about you.

I had trouble getting back to the sub.

Nips are as thick as

treacle pudding on that island.

Here it is, Admiral.

You're not going to like it.

They're preparing quite a welcome

on Levu-Vana.

They're stringing barbed wire

on the beaches

and pouring concrete for pillboxes.

The airstrip's almost done.

They're building revetments

for 200 planes.

Tanks bivouacked here and troops.

They're bringing in hundreds every night.

- About 5,000 landed while I was there.

- 5,000?

- At that rate, we only have three weeks.

- That might not be the worst of it.

I was scrounging around a Nip camp

and listened in on a sake party.

From what I could catch

from their gibberish,

there's a gathering of ships

at their Cape Titan base.

- That could mean a task force.

- It could.

- You could get a look at Titan.

- Recon planes wouldn't make it back.

Could Halsey's carriers

do a reconnaissance job for us?

Not soon. They're hitting the Solomons

for General MacArthur.

Best send a sub

for some offshore observation.

That's no good.

It'd take a sub 10 days to get there.

If they're laying in a fleet,

we've got to know now.

They could be planning to hit us

here before we kick off.

Can't you get long-range recon planes?

Captain, we're on Poverty Row.

Everything's going to MacArthur.

We get leftovers,

not long-range recon planes.

- We've got to get one, somehow.

- We can try.

Get a message off to Pearl.

Make it strong.

Imperative we get at least one

long-range plane, and get it now.

Wet it with tears, bleed on it, Egan.

- Darling, is that you?

- Hi, honey.

Hey, where have you been?

- Mmm! You feel good!

- I said, "Where have you been?"

- I dropped over to Treasure Island.

- For what?

- Just to visit with the Navy.

- I bet that was fun.

- Hey! This looks nice.

- Like?

Put it on, I'll take a shower

and we'll go out.

- Mac, is anything wrong?

- No, why?

You've got that kind of brainwashed look.

You've got bad news, Mac.

Tell me now.

If you tell me over dinner,

I'll cry in my soup.

Yes, I have orders.

- When?

- They say proceed immediately.

Why? We haven't even used up

half of your leave yet.

They don't tell you why.

Something's going to happen

on Gavabutu soon.

Oh, hell! I'm gonna cry anyway!

Better?

- I might not get you back this time.

- Oh, honey...

Mac...

Leave me with a baby this time.

Please, Mac!

- 'Night, Maggie.

- Goodnight, girls.

See you tomorrow.

- Pat, get a doctor. Quick!

- What is it?

A doctor. Hurry!

Annalee...

CinCPac sends regrets.

They can't spare one long-range plane.

Do we commence Skyhook anyway?

We've got to know

what the Japs are doing on Titan.

Why not send a one-way plane

to radio the information back?

- And the pilot?

- He can ditch, a sub can pick him up...

Torrey, here... Maggie!

What?

I'll be right over.

Egan, get me a jeep with a driver.

- What's wrong, Rock?

- A little nurse, friend of Maggie's...

- ... she's committed suicide.

- What?

She was engaged to my son.

- When's that staff conference?

- 0700.

We'll decide what to do then.

He raped her, Rock.

When she was afraid she might be

pregnant, she went to him and...

He didn't believe her.

Here, read this.

You said she left Jere's ring

with the envelope.

Shall I tell Jere about...?

No, I'll take him the ring.

I won't see you again for a while.

It's...

- It's starting?

- Very soon.

Captain Eddington.

- Trot me out a PBJ.

- Sir?

- Now.

- Yes, sir.

- Dig me out a flying suit.

- Aye, aye, sir.

Thanks.

What are you looking at?

Get back to your radio set.

Thanks. Carry on.

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