Fire Down Below (1957)

[bunniefuu]

Hey, Tony? A friendly word?

What?

If you'd been more

flexible with that lady,

she'd have kept on hiring this boat

at 100 bucks a day from

now till next Christmas.

Still not too late, you know. No

look, all I said was, flexible.

I'm not in that line of business.

I have to be cursed

with a fastidious partner?

You're gonna keep me a

poor man all my life, Tony.

If you're so anxious,

why don't you do something

about it yourself.

Don't think I wouldn't if

I thought it would work, man.

The lady just ain't interested.

What's she gonna do with

a beat-up old bum like me?

She's blond, she's pretty,

comes from a good family

and she's got a rich husband.

She wants only the best.

Tall, blue-eyed, straight-limbed boys

with curly hair and pearly teeth.

You'd have played your cards right,

we could have had a

shiny, new cabin cruiser

by the time she left the islands.

Stop dreaming.

All right, but you're

driving us to a life of crime.

Okay, let's not waste any time about it.

That lady sure was icy.

Yeah, but just not icy enough,

Jimmy Jean. Not icy enough.

Well, on to crime.

J limbo, limbo like me j

J limbo, limbo like me j

j want a woman to limbo like me j

j limbo, limbo like me j

j want a woman to limbo like me j

j limbo, limbo like me j

j your monkey want to


limbo like this boy j

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j your monkey want to

limbo like this boy j

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j limbo, limbo like this boy j

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j your monkey come to


limbo like this boy j

j limbo, limbo like me j

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j limbo, limbo like this boy j

j limbo, limbo like me j

j limbo, limbo like this boy j

j limbo, limbo like me j

j limbo, limbo boy j

j want a woman to limbo like this boy j

j limbo, limbo like me j

j limb, limb, limbo this boy j

j limbo, limbo like me j

j limb, limb, limbo like this girl j

j limbo, limbo like me j

j limbo, limbo like this boy j

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boy, limbo boy, limbo j

j limbo, limbo like me j

j limbo, limbo like this boy j

j limbo, limbo like me j

j limbo, limbo like this boy j

j limbo, limbo like me j

j want a woman to limbo like this boy j

j limbo, limbo like me j

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j limbo, limbo like me j

j limbo, limbo boy j

j want a woman to limbo like me j

j limbo, limbo like me j

j limb, limb, limbo like this boy j

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j limb, limb, limbo like this girl j

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j limb, limb, limbo like this girl j

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this boy, limbo, limbo j

j limbo, limbo like me j

j limbo, limbo like this boy j

j limbo, limbo like me j

j I want a woman to limbo like this boy j

j limbo, limbo like me j

j your monkey come to

limbo like this boy j

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j your monkey come to


limbo like this boy j

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j want a woman to limbo like me j

j limbo, limbo like me j

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j want a woman to limbo like me j

j limbo, limbo like me j

j limbo, limbo like this boy j

j limbo, limbo like me j

Next time we smuggle


anything onto this island,

we ought to wear tuxedos.

What will it be boys?

- Brandy.

- Beer.

There's Miguel.

You have to walk right

up to the bar, do you?

You have to make yourselves conspicuous

like two elephants in a ballroom?

Do you find it impossible to wear jackets?

Miguel, be polite to your colleagues.

- It's all delivered?

- All delivered.

A friend left this note for you.

Our friend didn't have

very much to say, did he?

What do you mean by that?

I mean, he wasn't very generous, was he”?

There are many expenses,

you know that as well as I do.

Palms to be greased and people

paid to turn the other way.

Its getting harder everyday.

Well, you tell our friend,

if he can't be a little

more communicative,

this is the last trip.

- Come on, Tony, let's get-

- Please take your money.

This drink's on the house

my heart is softened.

Listen, I can put a

little easy money your way.

- How easy?

- Without so many questions,

simply, do you or don't

you wanna make some money?

No

I'll talk to you.

You're a reasonable man.

Your friend is a barbarian.

Tony, you're gonna sit here

and hear your friend called a barbarian?

Miguel, I forbid you to call

this barbarian a barbarian.

You're a true friend

once again, I'll disregard the jokes.

I'm talking of a small act of kindness.

All you have to do is take a passenger

from here to Santa nada.

The American line runs a good boat.

You tell him to try the American line.

You're so clever and so rich

it isn't a him.

Her

a woman on a little boat like ours?

You don't think she'd find

it a trifle restrictive?

I suppose she can't afford to worry

whether it's restrictive

police?

I know nothing of police.

I'm trying to compose myself.

There's a rich American patron here

making private inquiries for her

and with infinite

generosity, I thought of you.

And this is how I'm

rewarded? With contempt.

Yeah, how rich an American?

I have not asked to see his tax return

let's get out of here, Tony,

I don't like the smell of this

- money doesn't smell.

- How much?

- $500.

- And for you?

Me, I merely seek to oblige a friend.

Yeah, but how many dollars

do you seek to oblige yourself,

1,0007 - that's enough.

You demean me. Leave my bar.

500 has a nice, wholesome

ring to it, doesn't it, 5007

yeah, 700 rings even better.

It's too risky.

A couple of cases of Brandy or

cigarettes, that's one thing

but an ill*gal dame.

If they ever catch us,

they'll take the boat,

lock us up and throw the key away.

They won't catch us.

I've got a hunch. I don't feel so lucky.

I feel lucky. We'll use my luck.

Uh-oh, the market's rising.

My last offer, 600. I'm disgusted.

Well, be disgusted for 700.

Very well. Wait here.

Two boys in caps at the end of the bar.

She's not impressed.

I am

I don't like this.

Let's get out of here.

Wait a minute. Nobody's

fired a shot yet.

Ask if they'll have a drink with me.

Sure.

The gentleman invites you

to his table for a drink.

Would it beyond the limits of possibility

to ask you to take off your hats?

You make too many conditions.

I think I'm changing my mind.

You're driving me

mad, authentically mad.

Don't let him suffer, Felix. Come on.

Here they are.

Won't you sit down?

Have a drink?

- Brandy.

- Beer.

Did Miguel explain the situation to you?

Yeah, a little. Not enough.

How much do you have to know?

Everything.

Slipping passengers past

immigrations is no joke.

Tell them everything they wanna know.

Incidentally, how much

money was mentioned?

$1,200.

Well, some days you

win, some days you lose.

I think they're calling

for me at the bar.

The lady, a relation?

No

A friend

she has no papers?

No. No papers,

no passport, nothing.

She's stateless.

It's a long, confused story.

I imagine we could spend

a number of long,

confused months in prison.

Why no papers?

Irena, maybe you'd better-

- I'll tell you all that's necessary.

I'm coming from nowhere, illegally.

I'm on my way to nowhere,

equally illegally.

Are you satisfied?

No

There's no need for you to-

- don't be delicate about my dignity.

Tell him what he wants to know

come on over to the bar.

Where did you meet her?

Here, about a month ago.

I feel sorry for her. I wanna help.

- Yeah, where'd she come from?

- Havana.

Oh, another rich friend?

I guess so.

And before that?

Florida

some army sergeant smuggled

her over from Europe

in a b*mber.

Naturally, they caught up

with her. She moved on.

Speaks awful good english.

She's been around

Americans for 10 years.

This stuff is k*lling me.

Look, this is the picture.

She came originally from

Lithuania or Estonia or someplace.

The story changes.

The Germans transported her to Berlin.

During the w*r, she lost everything:

Mother, father, brothers, the usual.

She got mixed up in the black market.

There was a holdup.

The police say she had a g*n.

She swears that she didn't.

It was a frame-up, she says.

So far, she's always

managed to find somebody

to take care of her

I don't doubt that

look, I wanna do all I can for her,

but I've gotta get back to Detroit.

1,200 bucks, take it or

leave it, that's all.

Actually, I don't...

I don't like it

what have we got to lose?

Now you know,

I do not make immigration

officers very happy.

An immigration officer presumes

that a woman who looks

like me should be kept.

And they prefer citizens

of other countries

to do the keeping.

You understand, irena, that

this is not the queen Mary?

There will be no steward aboard

to bring you your morning tea.

I've put up with worse.

You'll be alone on a not

very large boat with three men,

with low, brutish manners.

One man with low, brutish manners.

All right, $1,200,

1,000 for us, 200 for him.

You know number 3 pier by San Antonio?

I can find it

okay. Be there at sunup.

Come on, let's go.

I'm sorry, irena.

Sometimes you wonder

what god had in mind

when he invented the male sex

Well, hello there.

If I'd known you were gonna

wear your Paris clothes,

I'd have had the bridal suite cleaned up.

Sun lounge is on a-deck.

What happened to your gentleman friend?

I left him in the hotel

any other questions?

I might think of some from time to time.

Will you do me a favor?

Occupy yourself with your own business.

I don't think I'm going to care

for your attitude very much.

All right.

I don't think I even care

for my attitude very much.

Yeah, well, I'll show you

where you can keep your things.

Well, it's nothing much but

if there's anything you want.

I don't want anything.

J pile on the coal and the lumber j

j into the carnival first j

j call up my girlfriend's number j

j hope that port engine will last j

That port engine again.

That port engine again.

I et's see what we can do with it

you know, when I get rich,

I'm gonna buy myself a crowbar

and I'm gonna come aboard this boat

and I'm gonna beat that

port engine to scrap.

I hung around the house for three months

after I got back from

Korea, doing nothing.

And my father read me the riot act.

He's a big man in the

community, my father,

and he said it was giving him a bad name,

having a son who was turning into a bum.

So, I went to New York and met

a guy I used to know there,

went to college with and

he had a 30-foot sloop,

he was looking for someone to take a trip

around the Caribbean with him,

so we had a drink and I signed on.

Just like that?

Just like that.

The Caribbean seemed like

a nice, long distance

from Indiana

came down here and I liked

it, and my pal went home.

I met Felix.

We had some laughs and

he had a little money,

and I had some dough left over

and one night we were drunk,

and we bought this boat.

When it runs, it's a

pretty good little boat.

Two and a half years?

Yep, can't think of a better way

to spend two and a half years.

What happens when you get tired of this?

I'll move on, I told my father,

the day I saw the first

white hair on my head,

I'd come back home; It hasn't shown, yet.

What a country America is.

All the luxuries

fven rebellion.

I got an idea.

Hey, Felix.

Felix

yeah?

How much longer are

we gonna be stuck here?

Seven years and two months.

Good, we've got time

for a swim how about it?

Aren't there any sharks?

Well, of course.

Why not?

J don't believe my eyes,

they're the coldest eyes j

j but I'm not so cold,

let me put you wise j

j keeping the temperature so

low, this is a work of art j

j for there's a fire down

below, down below in my heart j

j and my crazy lips,

they're such lazy lips j

j but they'll come to life

should we come to grips j

j if you have anything in mind,

warn you before you start j

j there is a fire down below,

down below in my heart j

j now that you're getting my number j

j know what I'm talking about j

j pile on the coal and the lumber,

don't let the fire go out j

j I'll admit my face is the quiet type j

j this can all be changed

when the time is right &

j call out the volunteer

brigade, call out the fire cart j

j for there's a fire down

below, down below, down below j

j down below in my heart j

Everybody works but father.

That's right. That's the general idea.

The guests have everything

they want? c*ck?

Just ring the bell.

No c*ck

ask the lady.

No c*ck

I was glad to see you swim so well.

It's a pretty sight, you

handsome, young people

cleaving through the warm, blue water

with a nice, steady, eight-beat crawl.

Where did you learn? Berlin?

What do they use in those

swimming pools, blood?

Wait a minute, what is this?

What's it for, persecution or fun?

For fun

well, you're crazy. Leave her alone.

What's the matter, have

you appointed yourself

her new protector?

Go to the end of the line,

kid. It's a long, long line.

Let up on her.

She doesn't need protection, Tony.

She can take care of herself

with any weapon you'd care to mention.

Ask the mp's name in Berlin.

Ask about the g*n they found in her bag.

I don't know what's the matter with him

I've never seen him like this before

don't worry about it, it'll blow over.

No g*ns allowed on this boat, madam.

We have a naval limitation treaty

with the algonquin Indians.

Now I know you're crazy.

Anything you don't like,

you just throw into the sea!

I turn the other cheek

careful, I've only got two cheeks.

Why don't you stop them?

Not for the time being, ma'am.

Ain't no quarrel of mine.

I figure, I'll let them work

off a little bad blood first

He'll k*ll him!

Stop it. Stop it!

Now you just calm down a little,

then after that, we all

stop choking our friends

and we continue this cruise

on a nice, peaceful basis.

All right, Jimmy Jean, you can let go.

The w*r's over

- is that a promise?

- That's a promise.

See? A $1,000 for carrying

you just isn't enough.

I'm sorry.

You play rough, don't you?

For a minute, I thought

you were trying to k*ll me.

Don't be silly. All over?

All over.

We ought to do this more often.

Breaks up the trip,

entertainment for the ladies.

Greco-Roman style

wrestling, college rules.

Any time we get bored with each other,

I'll just remember to

throw something of madame's

into the sea

What's going on there?

Carnival time. Mardi gras.

You ever been to one?

No.

Well, do you like to dance?

Sometimes.

Well, how about that.

Do you wanna go take a look at it?

No

Oh, come on, I'll take care of you.

You don't have to get mixed up

in anything you wanna elude.

Perhaps some other time.

We don't guarantee there

will be another time, lady.

This is a luxury cruise,

but we only furnish one

mardi gras per trip.

Yeah, come on, let's go.

These things can be fun, you know.

Whatever you say.

You wanna go, Felix?

I have to be in the

mood for a mardi gras.

I'll see how I feel when we dock

Irena.

Irena

I can't stand waifs. Come on.

You hate me. Why?

Drink your rum.

What have women done to you?

I don't regard women in the

plural. I'm old-fashioned.

I regard women one by one.

What have they done to you?

Some of them have done good,

some of them have done bad

drink your rum.

Have you ever been married?

Yes, for a quick six months.

- What happened?

- I deserted her.

Why?

She was the most desertable woman

on the north American continent

she was pretty. Beautiful.

Maybe even as beautiful as you.

I had a wonderful time

with her for six months.

Till I got to know her.

Is that why you came down here?

That's one of the reasons, yeah.

Are you wanted by the police?

Oh, I wouldn't go so far as to say that.

Let's put it this way, if I

presented myself to the police,

they would not reject me.

No, no, none of that.

I et's not fool ourselves

let's not sit here laughing it up

like two nice people out on

a date on a Saturday night.

We're not nice people and

we're not out on any date.

You're a tricky bit of cargo

that I contracted to carry

from one island to another.

A danger to navigation.

Let's keep the channel clear.

I'll bet you have.

I'm not asking for any pity.

I don't wanna bother you.

You're stuck with me for a little while,

and I'm stuck with you.

But we don't have to make it

any worse than it already is.

Just tell me what you want

me to do and I'll do it.

Keep away from Tony, that's all.

He's not for the likes of you.

Why not?

I've known women like you.

You've had a little bad luck

and you're beautiful enough

to make everybody you touch, pay for it.

What makes you think he'd be interested?

I saw that g*y frolic

on the beach today.

A siren should have gone

off for Tony right then:

"Enemy approaching, take cover."

He's a big boy. He can

take care of himself.

Nobody can take care of

themselves, so stay away from him.

Stop probing him with those sad, pitiful,

calculating, dark eyes.

And keep those sweet,

poisonous hands off him.

You've got nothing for him.

He came down here to sow a

few wild oats, that's all.

What about you?

I sowed my wild oats a long time ago.

Been living off the crop ever since.

Not very nourishing.

And if you've got any ideas

about me, forget them.

You stick to the kind of men

that women like you were made for.

That nervous fella from

Detroit back there in San Juan.

The Russian colonels in Berlin,

the black-market sergeants.

No, I do you an injustice.

You're a field-grade operator,

black-market generals.

There's plenty of the usual

game for you around here.

Lots of sugar planters with

fat bellies, rum factories

wives with mustaches,

bank accounts in Havana,

New York, Zurich.

Stick to them. Leave Tony alone.

I beg your pardon, would

the lady like to dance?

No, the lady would not like to dance.

On the contrary, the lady

would like very much to dance.

That was wonderful

was it?

I beg your pardon,

would you like to dance?

(Get out of here.

I was talking to the lady.

I was asking her to dance.

It's a very simple dance. I'll show you.

You wanna dance, huh?

Come on, I'll dance you.

Who's there?

It's me, Felix. That's Latin for happy.

You should have danced with that fella

he was a real good dancer.

What is it? What are you waiting for?

I'm waiting for someone

to touch me with kindness.

I'm proud.

I don't make love to the dead

J limbo, limbo, limbo like me j

j limbo, limbo like me j

j I want a woman to limbo like this boy j

j limbo, limbo like me j

j I want a woman to limbo like me j

j limbo, limbo like me j

j I want a woman to limbo like me j

j limbo, limbo like me j

j want a woman to limbo like me j

j limbo, limbo boy j

j limbo, limbo like me j

j limbo, limbo, limbo like this boy j

j limbo, limbo like me j

j want a woman to limbo like this boy j

j limbo, limbo like me j

j limbo, limbo, limbo like me j

j limbo, limbo boy, limbo j

go, come down, get

down, down, down, down.

J limbo, limbo, limbo like me j

j limbo, limbo like me j

down, down.

J limbo, limbo like me j

j I want a woman to limbo like this boy j

j limbo, limbo like me j

oh, you're beautiful.

Marry me and we'll sail the seven seas.

And we'll see the tombs of the pharaohs

and we'll pull in at Hong Kong and Bangkok

and Indianapolis, Indiana.

And I'll be faithful to you

from here to the last distillery.

And [I'll cover you with jewels

and I'll drown you in champagne.

J limbo, limbo, limbo

like this boy, limbo j

our song. Beautiful, shall we dance?

J I want a woman to limbo like this boy j

j limbo, limbo like me j

j limbo, limbo, limbo like me j

j limbo, limbo like me j

do you mind if I have a drink?

You have to go now because

your family is calling you

but I'll be waiting.

J limbo, limbo j

alright, alright, alright,

here we are in the Rose bowl! Folks!

And he's fading back.

He's fading back, he's

looking for his receiver!

He's gonna pass.

100,000 people are going wild out there.

The last two minutes of the

game and he's gonna pass!

Shh!

He's getting ready. He's set.

He's found his receiver. He'll pass!

And there he goes down the field,

and he's getting ready to catch it!

There it goes, 10 yards,

20 yards, 30 yards!

He caught it! What a great show?

Irena

irena

yes?

Everything okay?

Yes

well, can I get you anything?

No, thank you.

Good night.

Good night.

Well, this is far as we take you.

At the end of the jetty,

you'll see some stairs.

At the very top by a

church, you'll see a taxi.

You go to the American

bar on the rue joliette.

The barman will tell you

where to find the hotel.

If you happen to see any of us around,

might be advisable for you

to pretend you don't know us.

Wait a minute, we can't

just drop her like this

in the middle of this forsaken hole.

Why not? That was

the bargain, wasn't it?

We were to take her to Santa

nada, responsibility ended.

You do have a mean

streak in you, don't you?

I said I'd bring her here

and I brought her here,

what's so mean about that?

Somebody has to see

the girl into the town.

You defeat me. I don't

know what you're aiming at!

Are you trying to get chosen

for the brute of the

month club or something?

Joke. Push off, Jimmy Jean.

No, hold it.

You're on your own from now on.

I'll leave my stuff on the

boat. I'll pick it up later.

Push off

It's not what you might

call a happy voyage.

No, sir, I've had happier trips.

You're not satisfied?

When I'm paid off, I'll be satisfied.

Any other complaints?

I might strike some.

You wanna quit?

I do believe I do

okay, that's fine with me.

We could stand some

fresh faces around here.

J but nobody seems to know j

j how the pirates kept their Christmas j

j in the days of long ago j

j how many loaded galleons j

js on Christmas day they sank j

j and how many merchant sea-men j

j they made to walk the plank j

js or whether they chanted Carols j

j as around the decks they rolled j

j and made each other presents j

you didn't have to come with me.

Forget it.

I apologize for Felix.

Nobody has to apologize

to me for anything.

I apologize for the whole human race.

Good evening, madam.

Good evening.

Are there any messages”?

The young man called,

the young American,

he'll be here at 7, he says.

Thank you. My key, please.

I would not be a friend

if I didn't tell you

that your presence here

for the last few days

has not gone completely unremarked.

What do you mean?

It's, of course, not surprising.

A woman who looks like you,

even in a great city, Paris even

all eyes would be attracted.

Omit the flowers. Who

was talking about me?

In a place like this,

there are certain people who

owe things to the police,

who from time to time, must

present the authorities

with information of an

interesting character.

Now, they see a lady like you arrive,

they make a few inquiries.

They find that your

arrival did not coincide

with the landing of a

plane, docking of a steamer.

They discover that you

seem to be settling down

for a long stay, that you have

no visible means of support.

That you are friendly

with a young American

of a rather brash and reckless character.

They begin to see some making

of profit in this situation

for themselves.

Why are you telling me all this?

None of this, of course, is crucial.

The right words spoken at a certain place.

A delicate hint that too much curiosity

is a bit improper in this case.

A genial reminder that

the lady in question

is regarded benevolently by a

good friend of the authority.

Yes?

I don't like to sound immodest

but I, myself, might answer

to such a description.

If it were to my interest,

perhaps I could be prevailed upon

to drop a word in a proper quarter.

If it were to your interest?

If it were to my interest.

Your key, madam.

Hi

Hello, Tony.

Got something for you.

Thank you.

Tony-well, open it up, open it.

Native blouse, see.

I just thought with your

color hair that it might...

It's very g*y, isn't it?

Very g*y.

Go ahead, try it on.

I wasn't too sure about the measurements

but go ahead, try it on.

Lady in the shop

says it's bound to have a

stifling effect on a redhead.

Tony.

Have you seen Felix?

Only once, in the bar for a minute.

All we said was, hello.

He's conducting a personal experiment.

He's trying to see if he can

drink the entire output of rum

on this island in the space of one week.

Did he say anything about me?

He was in no condition to

say anything about anybody.

Startling.

Thank you.

You like it?

I like it very much.

Still it would have been more useful

if you'd found something else.

A different kind of cloth

do they have anything in the shops here

that's guaranteed to

make a woman invisible?

What a waste that would be

come on, let's go out.

We'll have a great dinner

and dance, celebrate.

Celebrate what?

Celebrate the fact that

you're not invisible.

- Not tonight, Tony.

- What's the matter?

I've got to get out of here.

What are you talking about?

- The owner.

- Huh

it's the same old thing.

Sometimes it takes only a day.

And sometimes, like now,

it takes more than a week.

But it always happens.

What always happens?

They close in.

A sign goes up, "keep moving."

Did that slob tell you

you had to get out of here?

No, they don't quite say that either.

They always make it quite clear

that I could make certain arrangements

and be permitted to stay.

I'm tired of those arrangements.

Wait, what did he say to you exactly?

He said I'm conspicuous.

That the authorities have begun

to show an interest in me.

Where I came from, what I'm doing here.

And that he could put

in a good word for me

if I made it worth his while

I'll beat his head in

what good would that do?

It would only bring the

police down that much sooner.

Forget it. Forget me.

I always get by somehow.

As your friend Felix would say,

"I've become an expert at getting by."

Well you better start

teaching me some of the tricks.

What do you mean?

We're gonna get by together from now on.

Advertisement, "romantic young American

"anxious to ruin his life

"will accept any unreasonable offer.”

Will you marry me?

What good would that do?

I don't know about you, it

would do me a lot of good.

And then what?

Do you think they'll leave me alone here

just because you married me?

Well, if they don't, we'll move on.

Have you an unlimited supply of islands

because you'll need them?

Not necessarily, we'll be

able to settle somewhere.

- Where?

- Well, here, Cuba, Venezuela.

Venezuela's hopping now.

Or Mexico, finally, the states.

- Dreams.

- They're not such dreams.

These things can be arranged.

There's all kinds of papers you can get

if you just know the right people.

9 times out of 10, they may

not be such perfect papers,

but they'll pass, you just

need a little money, really.

A little money?

All right, then, a lot of money.

And then what do you do?

Write to your father in

Indiana? And what do you say?

"Dear father, please

send me $10,000 airmail.

"I wanna buy the future of a lady

"who's in trouble with the

police of two continents."

I can just see him

rushing down to his bank

as soon as he gets the letter.

Daddy isn't the answer.

- Who is?

- Well, I'll find it.

Why are you saying

all this, out of pity?

If I was gonna pity anybody,

I'd pity myself if I lost you.

You don't know me

go down to Felix and ask

him to give you his lecture

on the subject of women like me.

Then come back and see

what you have to say.

I don't need any lecture from Felix.

I'm no good. I'm all worn-out.

I've been passed from hand to hand.

I've had to submit to things

that nice young American boys

couldn't conceive of in

their wildest nightmares.

I've lived among the ruins.

Armies have marched over me.

Armies

I've been debased

I look in the mirror

and I say, "what a lie?"

At the first glance,

the face looks like the

face of a human being.

A wonderful face

inside a year, you'll get to hate it.

You'll look at it and you'll

remember everything behind it.

No, I'll look at it and I'll

think how beautiful it is.

And if I remember anything,

it'll be how you looked sitting

on the pier, waiting for us.

Brave, quiet, shining.

Ready to defend yourself.

And in a little while,

you'll forget everything

before that morning too, I guarantee it.

What a wonderful thing

it is to be an American.

You believe you can forget everything.

Irena.

Hi

Welcome. Hang around.

The next number on the program

is the Beethoven "9th"

yeah, I wanna talk to you.

Well, I've got a date to go

to a c*ck in 10 minutes.

But if you leave your

name with the secretary,

she might be able to arrange

something for later on.

I have to talk to you, Felix.

By all means, have a drink.

I don't want anything to drink.

You wanna listen to a medical fact?

In this climate, sobriety

kills more people per year

than heart trouble, motor accidents

or crimes of passion, combined.

Stop being so g*y. I'm serious.

g*y, me?

I'm so sad that little

dogs howl in despair

when they see me.

I have a proposition

to make to you, Felix.

To passengers. To tall,

long-legged, dark-eyed passengers.

I wanna make one more

trip with you on that boat

and I wanna make it a big one.

Now, I've been in touch with Miguel

and he's got something for us.

No more passengers.

I've discovered that I'm a

freight carrier at heart.

I'm gauche. I don't know how

to mingle with a passenger.

Well, don't worry about

it, it's only freight,

but they're in a hurry for,

they're willing to pay.

One more trip and then what?

Then we'll sell the boat

and we'll split the proceeds

and go alone.

Alone?

Not quite alone.

Not quite alone.

I'm gonna marry her, Felix.

Of course.

She's no good. She'll cheat

you, she'll pull you down.

Everywhere you go, you'll find

men who look at you and laugh

and say, "hey, get a load of

what our old friend, irena's

"gotten ahold of now."

She'll ruin you.

When she gets a better

offer, she'll leave you.

So, naturally, you're gonna marry her.

I made up my mind before I came in here

I wasn't gonna hit you.

Ah, I see she's got

you domesticated already.

So, in order to start this

marriage off on the right foot,

we wanna make a little trip, do we?

Well, you take it yourself.

I'm gonna stay right here

and listen to the music.

Go ahead. Go ahead, you don't

need me, you know the way.

You get ahold of Jimmy Jean

and go sailing off on

the calm, blue water.

Go ahead, consider it a

gift, a wedding present.

The use of the boat by

yourself and all the proceeds.

Consider it a dowry for the bride.

You don't wanna go?

Nope.

We'll split it down the middle

anyway, you get your share.

I don't want it

I'm gonna stay here

and see if I can find

a buyer for the boat.

I was getting tired of that

boat anyway, that port engine.

Port engine was wearing me down.

When are you leaving?

Tomorrow night.

Bon voyage.

Give my best to Miguel.

Yeah, what if something goes wrong?

Nothing will go wrong.

The usual arrangements.

Be off the point at one o'clock.

Two lights will be showing.

If anything has gone wrong,

there won't be any lights.

Good luck.

Tony. Tony, we're ready.

- Let me come with you.

- Are you crazy?

After all of the trouble we

had getting you out of there?

I don't want to be left alone.

It's only six days.

Three days out and three

days in. It's nothing.

I don't wanna be left alone anymore.

Only six days more.

Then I'll never leave you

alone again, I promise.

There they are.

Ahoy! Ahoy, there.

Heave to!

Coast guard!

They were laying for us.

Heave to!

Somebody must have tipped them off.

Heave to!

- What you doing?

- I'm gonna beach her.

Coast guard coming alongside.

You'll never make it, Tony.

We want to inspect your cargo

and see your papers.

Ahoy!

Heave to, or we will fire!

Tony, I'm waiting on you.

It's a long swim in.

It's a long time in the jug.

Come on, let's get out

of here make that fast

We'd better separate from now on.

If you get back before I do,

you do one thing for me, Jimmy Jean.

You tell Felix I'm coming

after him. You got that?

Here's a letter for you, Jimmy Jean.

Tony.

"Jimmy Jean, keep this to

yourself, I'm on my way back.

"I just shipped aboard a

Greek tug, the ulysses.

"We ought to arrive in about 10 days.

"I am going to need

your help. Watch for me.

"Tony."

Dr. Sam, this is francois.

Can you hear me, Sam? Hello?

- Yes?

- I say, this is francois.

There's been an accident, two ships.

There was this collision

between a freighter and a liner.

A collision?

The freighter

was coming into port.

Coming into port?

I waited until

I got all possible details

before I called you.

How many hurt?

They asked me to bring a doctor.

Can you hear me, Sam?

I'll be right down.

So, during the fog,

there was this little

collision during the night.

The liner was hardly damaged

and didn't turn back.

But the freighter is limping

into port, the s.S. Ulysses.

How many people are hurt?

The radiogram only

mentioned one, a sailor.

He's jammed up in the bow

and they can't get him out.

Oh, well, if a man

signs up to be a sailor,

he must expect little

inconveniences like that

from time to time

hello. Here comes the fog.

Hey, look out!

At last. Finally.

I'll write such a report!

Where is he?

In case you're not

familiar with maritime law,

I shall clearly state in that report-

- yes, yes. You do that, captain.

Where is he?

Where is who?

The injured man.

Where would he be?

Forward, in that hold.

Caught like a weasel in a trap.

Show us how to get to him.

He's down that hatch,

but let me warn you,

this is dangerous.

Everything's loose, liable

to come down at any moment.

Stop wasting my time.

[T's at your own risk.

I take no responsibility!

Hey! You'll need this.

Welcome, boys.

This way, Sam.

Can I offer you boys a drink?

This is the doctor. Are you hurt?

I don't know. You tell me, doc.

You don't look so bad

you ought to see me

when I don't need a shave.

Does anything feel broken?

No

Can you move your toes?

I don't know. I can't feel them anymore.

They wiggle.

There doesn't seem

to be anything broken.

You won't be able to go to any dances

for a little while there

I had no appointments.

What happened?

I was checking the cargo

and all of a sudden the roof fell in

iron started raining down

like rice at a wedding.

And something conked me in

the head and I passed out.

Came to, here I was, locked

up for being a bad boy.

I don't need a doctor,

I need a wrecking crew.

We'll be in port in two hours.

We'll get you out in no time.

Don't make any sudden moves

because the furniture is fragile.

There's genuine antiques.

What's your name?

Tony.

Hackenhausen

what's that, a German name?

Yeah, I'm the scion of

an old bavarian family.

Is there anybody you want us to notify?

No, nobody.

- You're sure?

- Yeah, I'm sure.

My folks all got wiped out in the w*r.

The hundred years' w*r.

Is there anything we can do for you now?

Yeah, tell the boys I'm hungry.

And I'd love a bottle of beer

maybe they could rig a light up down here,

I'm an only child, I'm afraid of the dark.

Okay, Tony.

I'll be back

I'll be waiting.

You better keep the torch.

Well?

He's all right.

Let me use your radio, captain.

I want to have some people

standing by with equipment.

We'll try and get that fellow out of there

as soon as we get into port.

By all means and while you're at it,

ask the fire department to

be there waiting for us too.

What do you mean?

Take a good deep breath.

Smell anything?

- Something's burning?

- Uh-huh.

It's in the aft hold

come with me.

The collision started something.

Sparks. Spontaneous combustion.

What have you got in there, captain?

Rubber raw rubber!

I'd better get that radio off right now.

I'll be back in a moment, Sam.

What a night.

Six hours out of port

and this had to happen.

Captain, this boy

who's caught up forward,

he says his name's hackenhausen.

If he says his name is hackenhausen,

then his name is hackenhausen

he says he's German.

The world's full of Germans.

He speaks english just like an American.

He has a talent for languages.

The Germans are clever people.

Did you see his papers?

He said he had lost his papers.

I'd like to see his

bunk, if I may, captain.

It's all the same to me.

It's right in there, in

the far corner on top.

Thanks.

What do you think, francois?

The poor devil, will they

be able to get him out?

There's an American

Navy repair ship in port.

I radioed to get hold of them.

And the fire department is standing by.

What do you think, francois?

Will they get him out?

Maybe. If anybody can

get him out, they will.

Maybe not all in one piece

but they'll get him out.

How are things, francois?

The American Navy is at work.

What do they say?

They don't say anything.

They just whistle through their teeth

and call for Coca-colas.

What about the fire,

are they putting it out?

It is a fire of raw rubber, monsieur.

One does not put out

the fire of raw rubber

sometimes with luck, with

a great deal of luck,

one puts such a fire under control.

Infrequently.

What's the matter with him?

He's an important man

and an unpleasant decision faces him.

Therefore, he must try

and make everyone else

feel as unpleasant as he does.

What's the decision?

The decision

to keep the fire under control,

he has to pour ton after

ton of water into the hold.

Now, if he pours in enough,

at a certain moment, the

ulysses will capsize and sink.

When that happens, he will

lose his job. So will I.

Because we permitted the ship

to sink alongside a dock.

And we'll deserve to lose our jobs because

it will put the dock out of

commission for at least, oh,

a year; To say nothing

of the money it will cost

to float it again and

get it out of the way.

To say nothing of the man in

there who will sink with it.

To say nothing.

But if he does not put

enough water into the hold

to keep the fire under

control, the fire will spread.

In the very next hold,

we've just discovered a charming fact.

There is a load of nitrates.

80 tons of nitrates

if the fire were to reach

the 80 tons of nitrates,

there goes the ulysses.

And there goes, perhaps,

half the harbor facilities of this port.

To say nothing of the man in the bow.

To say nothing.

Do you wonder that the

captain is a little snappish?

No, but the American Navy

must have said something.

Ask the American Navy

yourself. Here it comes.

Lt. Sellers, permit me to

introduce our port doctor,

Sam Blake.

How do you do, doctor?

How does it look, lieutenant?

Great. We're putting

in some hydraulic Jacks.

If they hold, we'll

get him out by tonight.

And if they don't hold?

Kindly notify next of kin.

- See you later, Sam.

- Right.

How's the boy?

Sitting down there,

playing my harmonica.

He plays real nice, that boy.

We're just about ready to try it now.

Okay, I'll be right down.

You wanna come along?

Think I'll be of any use?

- I sure do.

- Thanks.

If anything goes wrong,

you're gonna have a lot of customers, doc.

Boatswain, what's

up with the forward hold?

Get those grapplings undone on the double.

How's it going, Mac?

Be ready in a couple

of minutes, lieutenant.

Good.

Hi, lieutenant. You're here again?

What are you doing, bucking for admiral?

What d'you bring the doctor

for? Is somebody sick?

He likes harmonica music.

How's the fire doing aft?

[T's just about under control.

I ijeutenant?

Slowly going out of control, Tony.

How long do you give it?

12 hours, give or take a few minutes.

You're an officer and a gentleman.

Always a straight dope, huh?

Always a straight dope.

Lieutenant, we're all set here.

Okay, I'll tell you when to start.

Now, look, I'm gonna start the

Jacks and the winches going.

All we have to do is raise

this girder 3, 4 inches.

You feel it lifting, pull back,

try to get your legs

out by yourself, got it?

- Will do.

- And if things start falling,

coveer up.

What will you do?

I'll sing the "marine hymn".

Okay, let's go.

All right, start them!

Hold it!

Nothing's doing, lieutenant.

All right, slack off.

There goes your ball game, lieutenant.

Not yet.

Straight dope, huh?

Straight dope.

We can't get you out this way, Tony.

We're gonna have to try

putting in some more Jacks

with a different rig,

but it's gonna take time.

My time is your time.

I'm gonna start my boys working

tryna' get you from the

outside with acetylene torches.

I don't think we'll have time

enough to reach you, Tony,

but we'll try.

Where does this leave

me, sitting here frying?

Sitting there frying.

Doc, could you perform

an operation down here?

Get out of here, both of you.

I know what you're thinking.

You'll get me out, all right.

You'll get half of me out!

I eave me alone!

Look, if you're gonna get me out,

you get me out in one piece,

otherwise, keep away from me!

Think about it, Tony.

You peddle your wheelchairs elsewhere!

Okay, I'll start the boys

with the torches right away.

Doc, you stop sucking around me

and if you come near me with one needle,

I'll brain you, so help me, I will.

I won't touch you.

Tony, isn't there somebody

you want to talk to?

No!

Have you seen this picture before?

Yeah, the lady is my aunt Clara

and the man is my Sunday-school teacher

and the colored gentleman

played second base for me

when I managed the New York giants.

Fver see that before?

Yeah, they gave them out as favors

at a strawberry festival I once went to.

Now, don't be so tough,

Tony. We want to help you.

Help me? You wanna make

a half a man out of me.

We want to keep you alive.

I don't like the terms there's no deal

you come back when you

can make a better offer.

And keep out of my locker from now on!

I'll be back to see you again soon.

Don't hurry on my account.

Boatswain, get more men

pitching those acetylene bottles.

How'd you make out?

I tried to talk him into

it but he wouldn't have it.

It's the only way you're

gonna get him out of there.

My job is to get him out

of there alive if I can.

That's all, I think.

My job is to try and keep as much

of the human race as possible,

alive as long as possible.

What would you do if you were in there?

Me? I'd say, "cut away, doc."

I've lots to live for, I

got a wife and two kids.

Maybe he's got nobody.

He's got somebody.

A boy like that's bound to have somebody.

Well, they better turn up real fast.

Yes

hey, boats,

we haven't got all day.

Let's get some more men up here.

Is that boy gonna be all right, Dr. Sam?

Sure.

They gonna get that boy

out of there, Dr. Sam?

What's your name?

What difference what's my name?

Well, you know mine.

Everybody knows Dr. Sam.

Jimmy Jean.

Do you wanna help that boy in there?

Might be.

Like a drink?

Might be.

Right.

Chief, clear more

room on the pier for drums.

Well, that's the way it was.

You asked me why that boy might

be arriving on this island

with a g*n in his locker.

I guess you got as much

of an answer as you need.

What about Felix, is he here?

Mm-hmm_

And the girl?

She's here too, with him.

You're coming with me, Jimmy Jean.

Where to, doc?

Do you know where Felix is?

Yes, I do, doc.

Right.

Monsieur

monsieur.

It's no good, the fire is

completely out of control.

This ship of mine is going to blow up.

We have got to take her out of the dock.

Come on, you men.

Get more stages fixed to

get those barrels down.

Get those gasoline drums out

before the fire reaches them

boatswain, push that guy up on the winch.

I ieutenant! I ieutenant

I ieutenant

come on, you men.

Don't act like a bunch of flakes

get those drums hove to.

Jones, lend them a hand.

Listen, lieutenant, we

can't give you any more time.

We've waited too long as it is.

I want to save the boy

as much as anyone does

but that ship is likely

to blow up any second.

Get your men out of there.

I'm giving the order

to have her pulled out

into the middle of the

roadstead where she can explode

without blowing up the

whole town along with her.

You understand my position,

lieutenant, don't you?

Yes. Yes, of course.

Look, give me 15 more minutes.

What good will 15 more minutes do?

We're putting in another Jack.

Do you think it will work?

No, but we have to try.

But I'm telling you, it's

likely to go up any second.

Are you willing to go

in there and risk it?

All right, forget about yourself.

I know that's your privilege.

But are you willing to risk your men?

If I pull them out of there

now, I'll be marked lousy

from one end of the service to the other.

Navies!

I suppose a man has to be a lunatic

in the first place anyway, to join a Navy.

All right, 15 minutes.

I'm crazy, I say yes.

And not a second more.

And I'm going to stand right here.

If it blows, I want to

be sure I blow with it.

I don't want to be around to

answer any questions later.

Go, go ahead, man, don't

stand there looking at me

with that sad, accusing

American face of yours.

I'm tired of it

Polaski, bring up more Jacks

for the forward hold

Hi, lieutenant. You're still

bucking for admiral, huh?

Yeah.

Came in the back door this time.

We opened it up,

just in case you wanna get out in a hurry.

Yeah, just in case.

Now, listen, we're gonna make

one more try with the Jacks.

They might work but if things

begin to tumble around in here

and I can't reach you,

that's the best way out.

Okay.

This is the last try, Tony.

They're gonna tow this barge out

in the middle of the

roadstead and if she goes up-

- I know

You haven't,

haven't changed your mind about anything?

No

We're all ready, lieutenant.

Say when, sir.

All right. Start them.

I ast one

someday I'm gonna give up cigarettes.

Me too

Well, I guess that's it.

That's it

Now hear this. Now hear this.

Towing crew, stand by.

All others, abandon ship immediately.

Abandon ship immediately.

Towing crew, stand by.

All others, abandon ship

immediately. Immediately.

I'm sorry, kid.

I seen a lot of guys.

I was in the battle of Leyte Gulf.

I spent 10 hours in the water in the w*r.

One thing I'd wanna have.

Carrying it for 12 years. Insurance.

Now hear this. Now hear this.

Cast off all lines.

Just St. George and Navy tug 233,

proceed immediately in

accordance with instructions.

In accordance with instructions.

We're going for a little ride, dear.

What's happening, lieutenant?

He's still out there

we've done everything that

we can, but it's just no use.

S50, there's no chance

of getting him off?

None

He's still on there.

They couldn't get him off.

What are they waiting for?

They're waiting for it to blow up.

You stay here, miss.

You come with me

where?

Out there.

You and I have got something

to say to that boy.

I told you to stay behind.

He might want to see me.

And if he does, I want to be there.

Let the lady come if she wants to.

We better stand off a little

this ship's getting awful warm.

What do you think? Is

there anything I can do?

No, ma'am, everything you

could do, you already done.

You hate me, don't you, Jimmy Jean?

Yes, ma'am, I do.

Tell him what you told me.

Doc here says he could get

you out of here if you let him.

Did he tell you how?

Yeah.

Tell him what you said.

I said you wouldn't be alone.

I'd take care of you.

We'd take care of you.

Irena and me.

Forever

did she say that?

Yeah, she's waiting now.

She's in a launch out here by the bow.

You want me to get her and

let her tell you herself?

Keep her out of here.

Nobody's gonna have to take care of me.

I told you what he'd say, doc.

I know

listen. I've done everything

I can for you, son.

Now I want you to do something for me.

What?

I'm a religious man, Tony.

I believe in the word of god

and in the power of prayer.

I believe in grace and punishment for sin.

When I read, ""vengeance

is mine, ' sayeth the lord"

I believe that's exactly what it means.

I know why you came to this island, Tony.

I know what the g*n in

your locker was for.

I don't want you to face the

moment that's ahead of you

full of hatred and revenge.

I want you to forgive him, Tony.

Oh, he's no good, I know that.

He's done you great harm, I know that.

He's a betrayer

and a blasphemer

and a liar

wherever he goes, he leaves

a path of ruin behind him.

But I want you to forgive him.

Let me tell you something, doc.

If I had a g*n in my hand,

I'd k*ll him this minute.

And if I had a son, I'd curse

him if he didn't promise me

to spend his life tracking

him down and k*lling him.

If I had a brother, I'd

swear I'd never let him rest

until he promised me that he'd get him.

And if I had a wife,

the only way that she could

ever prove that she loved me,

would

Okay, doc, you've had your

chance now let me have mine.

You get out of here.

Tony and I have some things

we have to say to each other.

In private.

- Tony?

- Go on.

I'm all the things the doc said, kid,

plus a couple more he

neglected to mention.

But I'm not gonna leave you alone now.

I warned you, we were

doing the wrong thing

that first night we

saw her, now, didn't I?

Yeah.

I knew it in my bones. I'm hunchy.

It's a funny thing, though,

I never have hunches

when something good's gonna

happen to me, only bad.

I'd be a great guy to consult

if you wanted to know who

was gonna lose a horse race.

Does a man get a drink in this place?

To the good years.

I was straight with you for

a long time, Tony, wasn't I?

- I thought so.

- No, I was.

I'm gonna be straight with you now.

You did me a lot of good

and I'm grateful to you.

You picked a great way to show it.

Until you came along, I was a rummy,

floating around the islands,

getting rolled whenever I was drunk.

Getting beat up in bars.

But nobody in the whole world

to care whether I lived or died

then I saw irena,

and I knew they were bringing

the curtain down on me.

I never wanted anything so

bad in my whole life, Tony.

Maybe it was because

we were so much alike.

She got hers in Berlin,

my whole life has been Berlin.

Give me the bottle.

Only, naturally, like all

the rest, she went to you.

I thought, "well, give him a little time.

"The game's always over for him by 4:30.

"He plays again next

Saturday out of town."

Then you came to me and told

me you were gonna marry her.

That night I tipped off the customs.

I'm ashamed of it

it's the dirtiest thing

3 man could ever do.

And I'd do it again, Tony, if I had to.

And the doctor says forgive!

But I was wrong. You wanna know why?

- Why?

- Because I didn't have to.

Because two days after you were gone,

after it was too late to stop

you or call off the customs

she came to me in my hotel room,

where I was sitting half-drunk,

with a three-day beard on my face

and she got down on her

knees and she kissed my hand.

She told me she couldn't go

through with it with you.

She'd made a mistake.

She couldn't marry you.

You were young and gentle

and you offered her safety.

Only she didn't want

safety, she wanted me.

And she'd go anywhere I wanted her to go

and she'd do anything I wanted her to do.

You're lying! Get out of here!

You want me to go get her right now

and have her tell it to your face?

Go get her!

Tony!

When I say, go, you jump with me.

Listen, you might as

well know something,

this doesn't change anything.

And if I pull through this,

I'm still coming after you.

Go!

We must get him to a hospital, quick.

How could he have gotten out?

I thought you said he couldn't move

for at least another five days.

I know what I said

but he's a young man and he recovers fast.

Doctors

I saw him. He's coming here.

He's picked up a g*n.

Don't you think you'd

better get out of here?

No, not really, doc.

Sit down, Jimmy Jean. Have a drink.

No, thank you, I'll

have mine at the bar.

Oh, come on, sit down.

I'll warn this man but

I won't drink with him.

Jimmy Jean has a highly

developed moral sense.

Rare in this day and age.

Simone, bring us another

glass, we're expecting a guest.

- Now, Tony-

- That's all right, doc.

We were expecting you.

I wanna talk to you outside. Alone.

I'm ready.

Sit down. We have nothing

to say to each other.

Like the man says, "some days

you win, some days you lose."

Drinks are on me