In Which We Serve Page #9

You'd think they'd get tired, wouldn't you?

I'll tell you something -

strictly between you and I -

I'm scared stiff,

and it's no good pretending I'm not.

If I could be at a gun, I shouldn't mind,

but this sitting about and asking for it

is beginning to get me down.

- Brace up. Remember Nelson.

- Yeah, look what happened to him.

(Bomb whistles down)

(Barrel organ plays

If You Were The Only Girl In The World)

(Doorbell)

(Sobbing)

(Doorbell)

Oh, all right!

- Name of Blake?

- Yes, name of Blake.

- Here you are, then.

- Thanks.

There's no answer.

(Sobs)

Freda! Dad! Freda! May!

He's safe! He's all right! He's safe!

He's safe, Freda! He's safe!

He's all right! He's safe!

- What is it? It's not...

- It's from him.

He's sent a telegram. It's from him himself.

He's all right. My boy's all right.

But the ship went down.

It said so in the papers.

Ook

OK... love.

There, there, dear.

There isn't nothing to cry about no more.

Shall I wait for an answer?

Oh... Just a minute, I'll see.

Can we go down to the village after tea,

Mummy?

- I want to go on my bicycle.

- I want to go on mine, too.

- You can't. You've got a flat tyre.

- But I'm going to pump it up again.

The girl's waiting for an answer, ma'am.

There's no answer.

Tell Mrs Bates and John it's from the Captain

and everything's all right.

- I'm so glad, ma'am.

- Thank you, Emily.

Darlings, it's from Daddy.

He was picked up and taken to Alexandria.

He's quite safe.

Oh, Mummy, Mummy, Mummy!

Ship's company...'shun!

Ship's company present, sir.

Thank you, Torps. Stand them easy, please.

Ship's company, stand at ease!

Stand easy.

Come a little closer.

I have come to say goodbye

to the few of you who are left.

We've had so many talks, and this is our last.

I've always tried to crack a joke or two before,

and you've all been friendly

and laughed at them.

But today, I'm afraid I've run out of jokes,

and I don't suppose any of us

feels much like laughing.

The Torrin has been in one scrap after another,

but even when we had men killed, the majority

survived and brought the old ship back.

Now she lies in 1500 fathoms...

...and with her, more than half our shipmates.

If they had to die, what a grand way to go.

For now they lie all together

with the ship we loved,

and they're in very good company.

We've lost her, but they're still with her.

There may be less than half the Torrin left,

but I feel that we'll all take up the battle

with even stronger heart.

Each of us knows

twice as much about fighting,

and each of us

has twice as good a reason to fight.

You will all be sent to replace men

who have been killed in other ships.

And the next time you're in action,

remember the Torrin.

I should like to add...

...that there isn't one of you that I wouldn't be

proud and honoured to serve with again.

Goodbye.

Good luck.

And thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

- Goodbye, sir.

- Goodbye.

Goodbye.

- Goodbye, sir.

- Goodbye.

Goodbye, sir.

Goodbye, Rawlings.

- Goodbye, sir.

- Goodbye.

- Goodbye.

- Goodbye.

- Goodbye, sir.

- Goodbye.

- Best of luck, sir.

- Thanks, Harris. Goodbye.

- Best of luck, sir.

- Thanks. Goodbye.

- Goodbye, sir.

- Goodbye.

- Good luck, sir.

- Thanks. Goodbye.

- Best of luck, sir.

- Thank you. Goodbye.

Goodbye, sir. The very best of luck.

Thanks, Roach. Goodbye.

- The very best of luck, sir.

- Thanks. Goodbye.

- Goodbye.

- Goodbye, Fisher.

- Goodbye, sir.

- Goodbye, Moran.

- Goodbye, sir.

- Goodbye, Hollett.

- Goodbye, sir.

- Goodbye, Edgecombe.

Goodbye, sir. Bon voyage.

Thanks, Brodie.

- Goodbye, sir.

- Goodbye, Mackeridge.

- Good luck, sir.

- Thanks, Blake.

- Goodbye.

- Goodbye, sir.

- Goodbye, sir.

- Goodbye, Hardy.

Here ends the story of a ship,

but there will always be other ships,

for we are an island race.

Through all our centuries,

the sea has ruled our destiny.

There will always be other ships

and men to sail in them

It is these men, in peace or war,

to whom we owe so much.

Above all victories, beyond all loss,

in spite of changing values

in a changing world,

they give, to us, their countrymen,

eternal and indomitable pride.

(Cheering)

Open fire!

God bless our ships, and all who sail in them.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes