Malta Story Page #4

not shrink from giving all we have.

Malta has shown the world

that she can endure

and the world knows that

she will never weaken.

But not until the inevitable day of victory

can the whole story of Malta GC be told.

The safety of this fortress rests under God,

on four supports -

the three fighting services

and the civilian population.

Each one of these is essential to the others

and to the whole.

As we are co-recipients of the great honour

bestowed by His Majesty the King,

Iet us also be sure

that we are really co-operative,

and making this co-operation

ever more complete and effective,

go forward together

in our united strength and faith.

(Scrapes bowl)

But it is for two... and a child.

That's right. It's for two and a child.

It's been cut again, you know.

It is for your mousetrap.

It is a mouse's portion.

You have been a long time.

There are now no buses.

Yes, yes. You shall have it. Now, sit down.

But where is yours?

I have eaten mine. I was hungry.

- Are you sure?

- Of course.

You can see

that that is not the ration for three.

Carmela!

No, I myself am not hungry.

It is absurd to say always

you are not hungry.

You will eat yours or I shall be very cross.

And you are not to give it to the little pig

who is already fat.

Carmela! Mother!

- Two ships are in.

- Food ships?

Yes. Big ones, or fairly big,

and more coming tonight. Come and see.

(Distant cheering)

(Ship's hooter)

(Cheering)

(Cheering continues)

What about it now, then, Harry?

Won't never get through, eh?

I thought there were 17 of them.

That was the yarn.

- What's happened to the rest of them?

- They've been fighting for four days.

You can't expect 'em all to

arrive in a heap.

- So, the rest's coming, eh?

- Yeah.

Aye. Aye, it's just a bit of a delay.

I'll bet they'll be in tonight,

most of 'em, anyway.

Here...come on, misery.

- Celebration, see?

- Ta.

GOVERNOR:
I must now break to you what

the arrival of only two ships means to us.

This is a siege.

We shall be called upon this summer

to bear all the privations

of soldiers and citizens in a besieged city.

We are short of food, water,

clothes and fuel.

But let us remember

that the most glorious sieges in history

have always meant hardships...

.. and without hardships

there would be little glory.

It is perhaps not glory that we lack.

They' ll get more through next time.

This is the only one

that's been properly excavated.

The Temple of Mnajdra

has hardly been touched.

MARIA:
No.

Ah.

- Oh, do you see that that's been worked?

- Mm-hm.

Oh, it really is heartbreaking

to be spending one's time

taking photographs of ports...

..when there's all this...waiting.

- Peter.

- Yes?

- Do you think they will come?

- Who, the Germans? I shouldn't think so.

Why not? They have many more planes.

- There's nothing much to stop it.

- I don't think things happen like that.

I mean, not just by counting up.

There are other things that decide.

You mean God?

More that sort of thing.

You have faith, as we are told to have?

Oh, I wouldn't say that.

Anyhow, does it matter very much?

- What do you mean, does it matter?

- It matters now, that's what we're doing,

seeing that they don't take Malta,

that's the job in hand. I meant that

a temporary loss of civilisation probably

doesn't matter much in the long run.

After all, people have been

fighting their wars

around this place for 5,000 years

or more. It's still here.

Phoenicians, Greeks, Turks -

they've all come...and gone.

I don't know what you mean.

I don't care about the Phoenicians

and Turks. I only care about us.

You realise, if they did come and capture

Malta, we should be separated.

Doesn't that matter to you?

Yes, that does matter.

Because we must be together, mustn't we?

And when there is no war,

come here and talk.

If it must happen, it will happen.

We'll come here and talk.

And they won't take Malta.

You do believe that too, don't you?

Yes, Peter.

Yes, I do.

I am quite sure.

When we took the place first,

the garden was just a jungle.

I just got the lawn going. Cost me a

packet with grass seed the price it is,

and now I get a letter from Margaret

saying everybody's digging for victory,

so she's digging it up and

planting cabbages.

Cabbages...in my lawn.

- How big is the lawn?

- Oh, it's only about 20 yards square.

Quite a small garden, but very nice.

Particularly in the spring - lots of bulbs.

- Margaret says the daffodils are

good this year. (Knock at door)

Will you have your bread now, sir,

or save it for lunch?

Oh, lunch.

(Winces)

I'm tired of kitchen soap and cold water.

- Cypher, sir.

- Oh, give it to the admiral, will you?

If that's another query of our morale,

I'll cut my throat.

Well, what is it?

How many Spitfires would you like, Frank?

Oh, think of a number and double it.

60 any good?

Read it, please, Willy.

60 Spitfires will be flown in to Malta

from the American carrier Wasp

in three days from now, timed

to land in daylight.

On the next day, the unescorted

minelayer Welshman will arrive

Grand Harbour with a cargo of petrol, oil,

aircraft spares, food and powdered milk.

Powdered milk's good.

They think of everything, don't they?

Three days.

Well, if Jerry gives us that long.

Though I don't much see why he should.

(Reads) In addition to which...

What?

Vice Admiral Payne

will arrive in the Welshman to take

up duties as Vice Admiral Malta.

Vice Admiral Banks will take passage

in Welshman to Gibraltar.

Oh, no, Willy.

Well, I was expecting it.

I've been here six months longer

than I should anyway.

Payne's a good chap. You'll like him.

I'm glad the Spitfires will arrive

before I go, though.

Yes...Iong as nothing else arrives first.

Well, if they get here in time, and in

daylight, Jerry may burn his fingers.

Star-Spangled Banner

Now, every Spitfire will

have its own number.

As each machine lands

and taxies off the runway,

it'll be met by one of you on a motorcycle.

Your machine will have the same number

written on a board

and mounted above the back wheel.

You will lead the aircraft

to the pen allotted to it,

where it will be refuelled and rearmed

straightaway.

- Sergeant Vella?

- Sir?

No ammunition restriction

for the next eight hours.

Very good, sir.

OK, Peter, is that clear? I'll bring

Blue Section into Ta' Qali

and you bring Red Section

over the harbour into Luqa.

If we get this lot in OK, perhaps

they'll think twice about their gliders.

Yeah.

Raid's dispersed, sir.

The table's clear of enemy aircraft.

- Any sign of the Spitfires yet?

- No, sir.

Hello? Hello?

Yes. Fine.

Here we are, sir. Guests approaching coast.

We've made it, Frank.

It looks like it.

What was it the Duke of Wellington said

after Waterloo? 'A darn close-run thing.'

Well, now, if our German friends

will give us half an hour,

we'll be delighted to see them.

Don't open fire. Friendly aircraft

approaching from the northwest.

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