Morning Departure Page #8

---

He might even do that.

Full house in one.

It's funny,

if I ever get married and settle down,

I'd be able to go on in the service.

A woman devoted to Harry Manson

might inspire a certain confidence.

What do you mean?

There are hundreds of them already.

They'd never stay the course.

She'd have to be

a very special kind of person,

with cast-iron feelings to prevent bruising

and the understanding of a saint.

You'll get your confidence back.

You don't need a wife to give you that.

I need something. I can't do it on my own.

Anyhow,

what are we discussing women for?

We aren't likely to meet any down here,

unless they've started

using Wrens as divers.

- Lower away your starter rope.

- Aye, aye, sir.

They've been down nearly 24 hours now.

How long is this going to take?

Well, you can't run an air pipe down

just like that, you know.

We've got to rig everything first.

But we're nearly ready now.

- Got your bolt gun?

- SAILOR:
Coming, sir.

- All set?

- Yes, sir.

Right.

When you get down,

fire your two bolts into the hull,

and then fix your air pipe

and exhaust, got that?

Yes, sir.

Let them know

what you're going to do first.

Yes, of course.

And fire your bolts fairly high up on the

starboard side, just aft of the periscope.

There's nothing much in the way there.

- Very good, sir.

- Right. Off you go.

SAILOR:
Drop rope at the bottom, sir.

- Tie her off.

- SAILOR:
Aye, aye, sir.

Let them know we'll get the wires

under as soon as possible,

and start lifting about 12 hours after that.

What wouldn't I give to be in the old

Red Lion now, soaking up a pint of wallop.

And watching that there bit of goods

behind the bar,

giving us the old come-hither.

- You know her, don't you?

- No, I've never been there.

What? You call yourself a matelot

and you've never been to the Red Lion?

What do you do with yourself

when you're ashore?

I'm married.

Well, strike me. I wouldn't have said

you was the marrying sort.

- How long has this been going on?

- Three years.

Congratulations. Happy?

Yes, I'm happy.

You ought to bring your missus

to the Red Lion.

Wouldn't do that barmaid any harm to

have a bit of competition now and again.

I bet she's lovely, eh?

She's beautiful.

Goodoh. You bring her, then.

- She doesn't like pubs.

- What? Don't she drink?

Well, no, it's not that, but...

Well, we usually go to a hotel

or restaurant.

Blimey. That's a bit classy, ain't it?

Yes, I suppose it is.

I like to give her the best I can.

- She goes out dancing most nights.

- What, with you?

No, not with me.

Sorry, mate. I shouldn't have been

so nosy. I've got no sense.

That's the worst of being a bachelor.

Never mind, mate.

When we get out of this,

you're coming out on a real do at

the expense of Able Seaman Higgins.

I'll look forward to that. Thanks, Higgy.

(METALLIC CLANGING)

Listen, what's that?

Blimey! It's a diver!

I'll tell the skipper.

- My God, mate. Are we glad to meet you!

- Captain, sir. It's a diver.

HIGGINS:
He's tapping on the hull, sir.

Wonderful. Give me a spanner.

Come on, Higgins.

(RHYTHMIC CLANGING)

Firing.

(RHYTHMIC CLANGING CONTINUES)

Cartridge.

Here comes the air pipe, chaps.

It'll be nice to have a drop of fresh air,

won't it?

Wonder what they'll think of next?

Here she comes.

(AIR HISSING)

Sea air, eh?

Better than a holiday at Southend.

ARMSTRONG:
Quiet.

Passing.

Wires.

They're going to lift us, chaps.

Looks as if you'll get a decent breakfast

next Sunday after all, Higgins.

Funny, how good news

makes you interested in grub again.

Well,

nothing much we can do now,

except sit and wait.

Come on, Higgins. Back to the wardroom.

Me and Snipe was playing cards, sir.

Can we do that in there?

Blimey, why not?

What is it, sir?

Hmm?

Well, I was wondering

what you were thinking about.

(MANSON CHUCKLES)

I was thinking about that diver.

You mean that

he's out there and we're in here.

Yes, you could shake hands with him,

if it weren't for the hull.

I was thinking the same thing myself.

You all right, sir?

Yes, yes, I'm all right.

- Better in a minute.

- I'll give you a hand.

GATES:
Right.

(MEN CHATTERING)

That's the last of lifting wires

in position now.

Stop heaving.

Close your stopper.

Seems a slow business to you, I expect.

How soon do you think

you'll be able to start the lift?

Well, of course we got the weather

and the tides to reckon with on this job.

But if we can pin her down now,

we should get cracking on tonight's tide.

They'll have been down there

two days by then.

You didn't get any sleep

last night, did you?

Why not turn in for a bit? Do you good.

No, thanks, I'm fine.

Obstinate fellows, you submariners,

aren't you?

Well, I suppose

it takes all sorts to make a Navy.

But I've never understood your lot.

What makes you do it?

I suppose you can put it down

to that extra half crown a day.

MAN:
Hey, chappie, Jack,

give us a hand over here.

(WIRES RUBBING AGAINST HULL)

- Those wires...

- Take it easy, old boy.

(WIRES RUBBING LOUDLY)

Here you are, sir.

You'll feel better in a minute, sir.

How the hell do you know?

I know how you feel.

(LAUGHS)

Yes, I think you do.

Red six on the black seven, Snipe.

Thanks, sir, I wasn't concentrating.

You're doing all right.

Listen to this, Snipey.

"Born under the sign of..."

Pisces, it means fish.

- How very appropriate.

- Thank you, sir. Well, anyhow, that's me.

"The coming week will provide excellent

opportunities for making new friends."

Blimey, what a hope.

What's the matter with that, Higgins?

Well, how can I make new friends stuck

down here in this sardine can, sir?

- I ask you.

- You have, anyway.

Hundreds of those blasted divers.

Listen to them.

This here bloke couldn't have

seen them in the stars, could he, sir?

Funny. Seems ages

since I've seen the stars.

I suppose they're all out up there now.

- Ever been up to the Arctic Circle, Snipe?

- No, sir, I haven't.

You get the stars up there

for 24 hours a day in the winter.

In the summer you can see

the midnight sun.

I tried to photograph it once,

but it didn't come out.

What, the sun, sir?

- No, the photograph, Higgins.

- Oh, I see, sir.

Higgins, you have a trigger mind.

- I'd like to see that someday, sir.

- You will.

You're bound to get up there

sooner or later.

Have you seen

the northern lights as well, sir?

- Yes.

- Oh, I've seen them.

Just like Guy Fawkes night.

I've always been interested in the stars.

"And all I ask is a tall ship,

and a star to steer her by."

What does he mean, "a tall ship," sir?

A sailing ship with tall masts

carrying a lot of sail.

Wonder how that poet

would have described a submarine.

All I ask is a small ship,

and a cook who knows how to fry.

(LOUD RUMBLING)

Cor, sir, did you feel that?

They've started the lift, chaps.

We're going up.

- Snipe. Snipe.

- You shouldn't have done that, sir.

You shouldn't have done that.

Shall I slack off on the mooring, sir?

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes