Scott of the Antarctic Page #3

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I've got another one here somewhere.

"I'm going south, Amundsen."

- South?

- But I thought it was understood.

- Everyone thought it was understood.

- I can't believe it.

It's perfectly true. Read it yourself.

From Madeira. That means he's started.

- Why didn't he tell anyone?

- Not very sporting.

He's changed his mind.

Anyone's allowed to change his mind.

He was going north, now he's going south.

That's all.

It means a lot to you, doesn't it,

getting there first?

Of course it does.

You know damn well it does.

The Antarctic's a big enough thing to be

up against without this fellow butting in.

Why has he suddenly changed his mind?

He's trying to make a race of it

and we're not rigged for racing.

Quite, Con, quite.

What on earth would you do

with all us scientists?

We'd be falling over each other.

You're right, Bill. You're right.

This is a scientific expedition.

I am not going to be stampeded

and I am not going to take any risks.

In fact, I'm not going to race.

I wonder what route the blighter's taking.

'Wonderful to be free at last

from problems so difficult to handle.

'Whatever lies ahead,

I am now on my own ground.'

There you are, sir. The Great Ice Barrier.

400 miles long and 100 foot high.

'This is obviously the best place,

'a sloping shore

and a good stretch of bay ice.'

Steady, keep her straight on the lines.

Mush! Mush!

'With ponies, motor sledges,

dogs and men parties,

'we've done an excellent job

of transporting.

'Bowers proves a perfect treasure.

'There's not a single case he doesn't know

'or a single article

which he cannot find at once.

'So, we are landed and the hut is up

eight days after our arrival.

'A very good record.'

Sir.

- What is it, McKenzie?

- Beg pardon, sir.

We were wondering if you'd take

old puss with you to the Pole, sir.

- Sure to show up well against the snow.

- Yes, sir.

Hear, hear, sir.

He'd show up well anywhere.

No, no, it's very good

of you fellows to suggest it,

but I mustn't take the luck from the ship.

- Great minds think alike, eh?

- Yes, sir.

- Goodbye, Pennell.

- Goodbye, sir.

- Best of luck to you all.

- And to you.

Thanks. See you in about...

well, a year's time.

Yes, sir.

'The ship will drop Campbell's party

up the coast

'on her way back to New Zealand.

'What news shall we have for her

when she returns next summer, I wonder.

'There is much for us all to do

while the daylight lasts.

'When the sun does go,

we shan't see him for half a year.'

Oi, oi, oi!

Hello.

Oi, don't go away.

Come back. There's nothing to worry about.

Well, the winter's almost on us now,

and that means sitting tight here

for the next six months.

Seems a good moment to run over

what's ahead when the sun comes back.

This chart makes things pretty easy

to understand, I think.

- Can you see all right at the back?

- Yes, thank you, sir.

We're here, just above the sea ice.

The first stage is the Great Ice Barrier.

About 400 miles to cross.

Then come mountains 9,000 feet high.

We get up them by the Beardmore Glacier.

There's over 100 miles of that.

Lastly, the plateau.

Another 350 miles along that to the Pole.

Now, about ways and means.

The secret of travel in the Antarctic

is food and fuel.

Hot food will take a man further

than cold food.

And remember, there's no such thing

as living off the country.

Every ounce will have to be carried

and depot'd all the way along the route

to supply us on the way home.

Give me a hand

with the other one, Bill, will you?

Now, you see these depots marked here?

Up to the last, One Ton.

These are the ones we put down this summer

in order to save weight next summer.

Beyond, on the outward journey,

the southern party will put down

more depots every so often.

The whole resources of the entire party

will be devoted to getting four men

into a position from which they can

make their final bid for the Pole.

Outward to the foot of the glacier,

tractors, ponies and dogs will haul

as much as they can as far as they can.

From then on, we'll ask no more

of machines and animals.

It'll be up to us.

From the glacier to the Pole

and all the way back, man-hauling.

Now, the time margin is very small.

We've found already that our ponies

can't stand the lowest temperatures.

So it will mean starting

later than I'd hoped.

And we shall have to move

faster than Shackleton did

to have any chance of reaching

the Pole and getting back.

Getting back, mark you,

before the darkness

and winter blizzards set in again.

Now, is that all clear? Any questions?

- I know one I'd like to ask him.

- Which four, eh?

It's the ship. She's back.

- What's the trouble, Pennell?

- Came across Amundsen.

- Where?

- Bay of Whales.

The Bay of Whales, eh?

400 miles away.

That's practically next door out here.

- How many men has he got with him?

- Only 19 all told, sir.

He has more than 100 dogs.

Never seen so many dogs.

He's got some cheek.

We found this place first.

Fellow has a million miles of ice

to choose from and he has to pick ours.

Ah, well, the Antarctic's big enough.

Right, Pennell. Thanks for the news.

Now, you'd better get out again

before the sea freezes over.

I shall be glad

when we've finished with the Pole

and we can get down

to some real work, won't you, Bill?

- Hot char anywhere?

- Oh, shut that door, Birdie!

- Giving tongue all right, aren't they?

- Mm.

Well, good night, all.

Good night, Ponko.

Brrrr!

Good night, Uncle Bill.

Good night, Atch.

Abide with me

Upon the eventide

The darkness deepens

Lord, with me abide

When other helpers fail

And comforts flee

Help of the helpless

Oh, abide with me

I need Thy presence

Every passing hour

What but Thy grace...

Good night, sir.

Good night, Lashly.

Who like Thyself

My guide and stay can be

Through cloud and sunshine

Lord

Abide with me

Gentlemen, one more toast.

- Sweethearts and wives.

- Sweethearts and wives.

"Here's to myself and another

"and may that other be she

"who drinks to herself and another

"and may that other be me."

- Jolly good.

- I'll drink to that.

"Other be I," surely?

Gentlemen, the famous Russian dancers,

Dimitri and Oatesikowski.

Very good indeed. Very good, sir.

Gentlemen?

Mr Ponting will now recite.

All right, then.

Give us the doings, someone.

The Sleeping Bag, a poem.

Hurray!

On the outside grows the fur side

On the inside grows the skin side

So the fur side is the outside

and the skin side is the inside

One side likes the skin side inside

and the fur side on the outside

Others like the skin side outside

and the fur side on the inside

If you turn the skin side outside,

thinking you will side with that side

Then the soft side, fur side's inside,

which, some argue, is the wrong side

If you turn the fur side outside

as you say it grows on that side

Then your outside's next to the skin side

which for comfort's not the right side

For the skin side is the cold side

and your outside's not your warm side

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