Morning Departure Page #6

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through the conning tower.

I couldn't bear watching old Higgins' face

with the water coming up all round it.

What's wrong with my face?

Nothing. Only it's here.

Well, if we must decide on somebody,

I think Higgins ought to go.

That's nice of you, Coxswain, why me?

Well, you're our little hero, aren't you?

It was you that blew out the oil.

If it wasn't for you, Higgy, lad,

we might be sitting here

until kingdom come.

Why Higgins? Anyone but me?

If I don't go, I only hope you do, Snipe.

You're getting on my nerves,

sitting there like a blooming death's head,

- Only not so cheerful.

- You hate my guts, don't you?

- Nobody hates you.

- Oh, yes, they do.

You do, and so does Marks.

You didn't stay long on your last boat,

did you, Snipe?

Solway, wasn't it?

- What do you mean?

- Only that I'm beginning to realize

why they got rid of you.

- And I don't blame them.

- All right. I know what you're thinking.

You all hate me in submarines, don't you?

I'm a Jonah! I'm bad luck!

That's what you mean, isn't it?

- Shut up, Snipe.

- Pipe down, you idiot!

You want the officers to hear us?

- You'll get us all into trouble.

- MANSON:
What's all the noise about?

Nothing, sir. Just a friendly argument.

All right. Well, pack it in now, the captain

wants everybody in the wardroom.

Very good, sir.

Now get forrard. And keep quiet.

Understand?

I never did hold with gambling, sir.

There are times when it's the only answer,

Chief, and I'm afraid this is one of them.

I've asked you to come in here, because

I've got something rather serious to say,

which affects us all.

You know there are eight DSEA sets

in a locker in the control room,

and another six in here.

I'm afraid the ones in here

are quite useless.

The locker was completely smashed

when the mine exploded.

You mean there are only four left, sir?

The ones in the control room?

- That's it, Barlow.

- I see, sir.

So we use those for the four who go out

through the Conning Tower.

- Is that right, sir?

- That's all we can do.

What happens to the rest, sir, then?

The four that are left?

They'll have to stay here,

and wait till the boat is salvaged.

That might take some time,

mightn't it, sir?

Yes, it probably will.

Depends how soon they can start,

how much they can lift us with each tide

and weather conditions.

But I expect they'll run an air pipe

down to us

and we've got a good supply of oxygen.

We can stay here a week, if necessary.

Providing there's enough food

for us, Higgins?

- A week.

- I think that we'll be all right, sir.

(CHARGE EXPLODING)

Good, that means they've picked up

Oakley and the others.

Now, I'm not going to give

any orders about this,

and I'm not going to ask for volunteers.

I want everybody to have an equal chance.

I'm gonna deal each man one card,

face downwards.

I want you to turn them over yourselves,

one after another.

The four with the highest cards will go up

through the conning tower.

That clear to everybody?

Aces high or low, sir?

Aces high. Right.

Who'd like to shuffle them?

Go on, Higgins.

Blimey, what a score.

All right. Move in, boys, round the table.

- How about yourself, sir?

- I'm not in the draw.

- That wasn't part of the bargain, sir.

- What? Neither am l, sir.

You're first, Higgins, turn up your card.

- Now look here, sir.

- Turn up your card.

I never had no luck playing straight.

Barlow?

MANSON:

That looks like a good one, Coxswain.

You're next, Snipe.

HIGGINS:
Blimey, another winner.

Number One?

Lucky in love.

Hillbrook?

HIGGINS:
Well done, Sparks.

Chief?

Beginners luck, eh?

So far it's Hillbrook, the Chief,

Barlow, Snipe.

You've got a knave to beat, Marks.

Well, who'd have believed that?

Blimey, it's a perishing picture gallery.

For God's sake, shut up, will you?

Hillbrook, Barlow and the Chief win.

Marks and Snipe tie for last place.

I'll deal you each another card to decide.

Well, come on, one of you.

HIGGINS:
Hard luck, Marksy.

MANSON:
That doesn't look too good.

How about your card, Snipe?

That's pretty tough.

Blast the bloody card.

Why should you go and not me?

- You're all in it. You're all against me.

- Snipe!

Who are you to decide my life for me?

Why should I stay here and die

just 'cause you say so...

Shut up, Snipe!

Stay where you are.

SNIPE:
You can all stay down here,

I'm getting out. I'm going up.

Let me go, damn you, let me go.

- Now listen, Snipe...

- I'm not going to stay,

I'm not going to die!

(GRUNTS)

- Barlow, Higgins.

- Sir?

Put Snipe on one of the bunks

in the wardroom.

Aye, aye, sir.

Marks.

Yes, sir?

In view of what's happened,

I'm gonna ask you to stand down

in favor of Snipe for the next escape.

It's for the safety of everybody.

I'm not ordering you to do it.

I'm asking you if you will.

Yes, sir. Of course, sir.

Thank you, Marks.

- Number One.

- Sir?

- See everything's ready.

- Right, sir.

Here you are, Coxswain.

Have some sardines before you go.

Oh, thanks, Higgy.

If you get lost, they'll find the way for you.

- How about you, sir?

- I don't mind if I do, thanks.

Good idea, Higgy.

Best food I've tasted in the Trojan.

That's probably because

you didn't cook it, Higgy.

There's gratitude for you.

- Have a sardine, Marksy.

- MARKS:
Thanks, Higgy.

Here we are, that's the lot.

All decisions made, all passions spent.

You know, it's funny.

The Chief doesn't hold with gambling

and I love it.

Yet he goes and I stay.

There must be a moral in it somewhere.

- I'm sorry, Harry.

- You needn't be. I'm not.

Not this time. I'll give this to the Chief.

BARLOW:
Come on, get this on, Snipe.

- What's wrong with you?

- All ready?

All except Snipe, sir.

Come on, Snipe, get cracking.

You're holding up the others.

- It's no good, sir. I can't go.

- What're you talking about? Why not?

It's my arm, sir. I hurt it when I fell.

What's the matter with it?

Let's have a look, Snipe.

It's my wrist.

I couldn't climb the ladder.

Couldn't work my set, anyway.

What's all this about, Snipe?

I think I bust my wrist, sir.

It hurts. It hurts bad, sir.

Let me see it.

- All right, Marks, you'll be going after all.

- But, look, sir...

Hurry up, now.

Can't afford to waste any more time.

- Higgins.

- HIGGINS:
Sir?

Take Snipe in the wardroom

and bandage that wrist.

HIGGINS:
Aye, sir.

Good luck, Marksy. Good luck, Chief.

Good luck, Sparks.

I'll be seeing you, chums.

- All ready?

- McFEE:
Aye, all ready, sir.

ARMSTRONG:
Up you go, Coxswain.

Good luck.

Thank you, sir. Same to you, sir.

Cheerio, Barlow.

You next, Hillbrook.

All right. Let's get on with it.

- Cheerio, sir.

- Cheerio.

Good luck.

- Cheerio, Hillbrook.

- ARMSTRONG:
Take it easy.

Marks.

- Good luck, sir.

- Thank you.

- Up you go.

- Ciao, Marks.

About that letter, sir, the private one.

- Shall I...

- Keep it.

Anyway, till you hear something definite.

And Chief.

Tell them up top that everyone down here

is quite okay and the morale's good.

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