Malta Story Page #3

- I have a battery on the coast.

I'm on a few hours' leave,

the first for many months.

- Chocolate!

- (Whispers) Say thank you.

Thank you.

(Air-raid siren)

There we go again.

Well, Mr Ross, are we going to be invaded?

Mother, I tell you, you know

nothing about it.

She will listen to Rome Radio.

It is sometimes very funny, this propaganda.

Paolo is, of course, our military expert,

but I also read.

I use my eyes...

(Explosion)

..and my ears.

And still she knows nothing. Nothing.

You must all know more about it than I do.

I've only just come here.

And the first thing you meet is

Maria and all the silly Gonzars.

That is bad luck for you, Mr Ross.

- Not at all. On the contrary.

Take no notice of Mother, Mr Ross. It is

well known one must take no notice of her.

These are, of course, only

my silly children.

I have also a clever son, Giuseppe.

Who is so clever, the Italians caught him.

Really?

- A prisoner?

- No.

He was studying in Italy

when the Italians declared war.

So now he is interned.

But he's safe?

Oh, yes.

Sometimes, I have letters from him.

Of course, they are censored,

but we know he is safe.

(Explosion)

- Safer than we are, by the sound of it.

Giuseppe would be here,

if he could.

(Explosions continue)

You hear?

It is getting much heavier

than it was a few weeks ago.

They say so here.

Of course, they cannot tell us everything,

but what they do tell us is true.

It is building up for something, Mr Ross.

(Cock crows)

RAF?

Yes.

- Here we are.

- Right.

Goodbye.

BARTLETT:
Bye-bye.

ALL:
Goodbye!

Bye.

- What a good bunch they are.

- Yes.

Joan...

I think there's an order coming out about

Englishwomen who can leaving the island.

Splendid. Even less competition.

I dare say, but I think

you ought to get out of here.

Sir, do you realise just what would happen

to that Operations Room without me?

Here I am, practically defending the island

single-handed, and you have the cheek to...

No, but quite seriously, I think it's

much wiser.

One can't just go around

being wise, darling.

Gosh, it's lovely to be out

of it all for a few hours.

(Aeroplane on strafing run)

Well, well, well. This is a new development.

See what I mean about getting out of here?

Nonsense. I shouldn't think of leaving

if they act in that rude way.

(Machine-gun fire)

- My God, John, the bus!

Well...that's jolly, isn't it?

The Intelligence people are

regretful but definite.

- Have we got any bombers to have

a go at 'em? - Not after last night.

Matthews hasn't a serviceable plane left.

- You couldn't use fighters?

- 15 serviceable.

If we lose those, there'll be

no air defence at all.

- Did you see the crates?

- They're being loaded onto barges.

I should think some of them

are in Sicily already.

If they're on their way to

Sicily, that settles it.

If only we'd got a couple of squadrons

of bombers, instead of this mess.

You'd better go and get rested up.

Probably do with it.

A nice long sleep.

(Buzzer)

(Hum of conversations)

Hello, Peter.

I wanted to apologise for not

having come in. I've been busy.

- I know. I have been watching you.

- Watching me?

Oh, yes. I always forget

that you come on these expeditions.

I'll remember in future.

Anyhow, I've got 12 hours off and

I thought we might go out somewhere.

What you need is sleep, not going out.

You go and sleep first, Peter,

then we'll see.

Go along.

You're quite right.

(Buzzer)

Sir?

See, it's just a mess, sir.

Can't do anything with it.

No, that's jamming all right again.

When did you say it started?

Well, there it is, gentlemen.

Massed raids on the airfields, low-level

attacks on the civilian population.

And I've just had a report

they're jamming on radar.

It all adds up to an invasion.

And soon.

- When are the Spitfires actually due?

- Any time now.

Depends when the carrier can get them off.

I can't do anything much until they show up.

I have nothing to do it with.

I'm sure that both of you

have done everything possible.

I can't help thinking

that while I must keep the defences manned,

the most important thing

is to keep the airfields serviceable,

- in case your Spitfires do get

here in time. - Agreed.

We'd better go on using as many

of my fellows as we can on the airfields,

even if it leaves us a bit light elsewhere.

Thank you, General.

Not at all. I'm sure everybody

will be charmed.

It's a fine day off we're having.

Perce, if it takes 30 tons

to fill one hole

and we filled 14 this morning,

how many tons is that?

Far too many. And a

lot of good it'll do too.

The buzz is there's 50 Spitfires coming.

There's been 50 Spitfires coming

ever since I've been here

- and all that's come is about 500 Jerries.

(Whistle blows urgently)

(Klaxon)

Another 30 tons, Perce.

- Ah, what did I tell you?

(Bomb whistles)

60 tons.

- Hey, there's Millie out in

the middle of it. - Millie!

Millie!

Millie!

(Machine-gun fire)

(Plane screeches)

SERGEANT:
Fall in, No.2 Section.

Come on. Move it sharpish. Come on.

Fall in, No.2 Section. Come on, come on.

You're not a bunch of ballet dancers.

- Right turn. Quick march.

- Where to now, sarge?

We're going to that field to dig some

big holes and put long straight poles in,

so the Germans can't land their aircraft.

That's what's called air strategy.

You roll the ruddy runway

so people can land,

then you stick poles up

in it so they can't.

That's good, that is.

All runways serviceable now, sir.

Good.

Yes, 47 Spitfires on their way now.

You'll take 27. 10 each to go

to Hal Far and Ta' Qali.

OK. Good luck.

All three airfields ready to

receive Spitfires, sir.

Fine. If the Germans let

us get away with it.

Right. Let's have them on the table.

They're flying the Spits in

from the American carrier Wasp.

It's a long haul, but they'll

just about make it.

Then, if only the Germans

will give us time to get them refuelled.

CONTROLLER:
Table clear of enemy raid, sir.

Let's hope it stays clear.

But as late as this...

.. I'm afraid they'll just catch it.

100-plus bandits approaching the coast.

(Order shouted)

(Order shouted)

Fire!

Eight more Spits to come in, sir.

Runway being heavily bombed, sir.

(Plane screeches)

(Distant explosions)

You must not go outside, Mother.

It is a very heavy raid.

It is not here, it is on the airfield.

It will be the new Spitfires they're after.

Do not be afraid, Carmela.

If they hit us, it will be a mistake.

For once they have something better to do

than to try and kill Ninu.

(Distant rumbling)

Very disappointing.

- You know how many Spits we lost

last night? - I heard it was 15.

20. 20 out of 47 and they

weren't even airborne.

Of course, turning up then

they just caught the dusk raids.

Have you seen this, sir?

I thought it might cheer you up a bit.

GOVERNOR:
We who have been thought

worthy of this high honour and distinction

must see that we live worthy of it,

and, in this critical time, that we do

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