San Demetrio London

Nice drop of gun, this.

All right to look at, but guns are like women.

You can't tell until you're in action.

Then it's too late.

Oh!

- Stooping ain't much in my line today. - Too much wallop last night.

You never know when you're going to sail.

I've been having goodbye booze-ups all this week, just in case.

Look out, here's the old man.

Are you two of the men who've been to gunnery school?

Yes, sir.

Well, I hope you remember what they taught you.

If we run into any trouble, it will be up to you to save the ship and crew.

And me.

- That's the lot, boss. - Righto, Mac. Lace her down.

Let's hope she stays like that till we're home again.

- That the last one, Bosun? - Yes, sir.

- We've got everything we should have. - Right.

Oh, there's a Mr. Dodds

from the office come aboard. He's in your room.

Right. See if you can find the chief and ask him to look in.

Yes, sir.

- Noisy up in London last night, sir? - I'll say it was.

Pretty lively down here too, sir.

Hello, Mr. Dodds. Good of you to spare the time.

- Afternoon, George. Had a good leave? - Oh, same old story.

You called me back just when I was beginning to enjoy it.

You mean just when she was beginning to enjoy it!

Oh, well, easy come, easy go.

How about a peg?

Not much time left, eh?

Well, you know me, dry as a dog's dinner from shore to shore.

Not that you give us much time ashore!

Well, George, a cargo of petrol is worth all the tea in China these days.

- So, growl you may... - But go I must.

Well, I looks towards you.

I catches your eye!

- I bows according. - Down the hatch.

Come in.

Oh, sit down, Chief.

- Hello, Mr. Dodds. - Afternoon, Pollard.

- How's the missus and Kathleen? - Oh, they're fine.

Kath will be sitting for her scholarship while we're away.

Good luck to her!

Well, I've told her no scholarship, no presents this trip.

- Help yourself, Chiefie. - At this time of day? Thanks.

Well, Mr. Dodds, what are we fetching this time?

Pool petrol. It looks like a two-month job.

America, eh?

Commodore of the convoy will tell you that.

All right. Back for Christmas, anyhow.

Come in.

- That's the allotment note, sir. - Thank you, Mr. Hawkins.

How many men still to come?

The cadet, sir, and a couple of deckhands.

Uh-huh.

- We're sailing in the morning. - Right, sir.

Nice young chap.

Pretty wife.

Kid on the way, too.

Ah, sailors ought to be bachelors.

- Mighty long ship, this. - Eh? Oh, sorry!

- Are you the cadet? - Yes, sir. Housden.

Save your "sirs" for the officers, I'm only the apprentice.

Come on, we'll get your gear stowed.

John, you'd better hurry. The pilot's just leaving.

Here, write the envelope, to save time.

Jeannie would never forgive us if we sailed without sending her a line.

- Here we are. - Aye.

Will you drop this in the post for me, sir?

Pleasure.

- Well, pleasant voyage. - Thank you.

Excuse me, sir. Would you post this for me, please?

- Righto, boy. - For the stamp.

- Oh, don't worry about that. - Thank you, sir.

Half ahead, mister.

Half ahead.

So, on the compression stroke, the air in the cylinder gets very hot.

If the cover wasn't on, you could see the piston moving up and down

and just before it reaches the top of the stroke,

we pump the oil in.

Up here. But of course, you can't see that either.

Now, this is one cylinder and there are seven others just like it

all working on the same shaft.

Thought I didn't recognise the face. Who are you?

- Jamieson, sir. Mess room steward. - Then you have no business down here.

Can't they give you enough work topsides?

Yes, sir.

- Friend of yours? - My wife's young brother, sir.

A good kid and he'd give anything to work down here.

- Promised I'd keep an eye on him. - I see.

Well, if you quite finished your lecture on engines,

perhaps you'd go and keep an eye on them!

Yes, sir.

- That's 180 you want. - Hundred and eighty?

Yeah.

Sixty!

- And another! - One more for game.

I'll give you the game and the ship, too!

- Shot! - Blimey, it's there!

Oy, write to the News of the World and tell them to send me a badge.

- Hello. Who are you? - Came aboard yesterday, off Southend.

- Evacuee, eh? Don't like air raids. - Come along, my likely lads.

Your last chance to buy a ticket for my Leger sweep.

- Put you all in? Tenner a go. - Okay. Put me down for one.

How about you?

Not me. I never won one in my life.

I'll have that one. When's the draw?

Straightaway. Before the six o'clock news.

This is the BBC "Home and Forces" Programme.

Here is the news...

Mr. Sadler, would you get the St. Leger result for me, please?

Shh, later.

Last night the Luftwaffe's main target was again London.

Considerable damage was done to residential and industrial...

- What's doing at home, Sparks? - Still copping it in London.

London again.

Well, they won't stop it just to please you.

I know. I hope to goodness the wife's gone down to the country.

Made her promise she would if things got bad.

Don't worry. She'll be all right.

Well, sir, we're blank. All finished now, sir.

- Okay. She's all open below, Mr. Wilson. - Right. Open up pumps.

All open!

There's only one sight I like better.

That's it coming out again when we get home.

Hope you live to see it, Chief.

- Everything under control, Mr. Wilson? - Yes, sir.

Right. I'm going to the ship brokers to rustle up some hands.

Fine.

Two deckhands wanted. Tanker, for England.

- Name? - Daines, sir.

- Nationality? - British.

- Been to sea before? - No, sir.

But I'd like to get back the way things are.

- All right. I'll take you back. - Thank you, sir.

Tynesider, eh?

No, sir Captain. Japanese.

Sorry, brother. We're going the wrong way for you.

- Name? - Preston.

I'm looking for a one-way passage so I can join the RAF.

Sorry, but we can't take Americans. Rule about non-belligerents.

- Do you take Canadians? - Surely.

- Okay. I'm a Canadian. - Hmm.

- Sea time? - Plenty.

Tankers?

No, but I guess they'll suit me as well as any other ship.

The point is whether you'll suit the ship.

One...

Two.

Okay.

- Sign them on right now? - Yes.

Pardon me, Captain. There's just one little thing.

I'm a bit short on dough and I'd like to get some gear before I leave.

Yes, I know that kind of gear.

I'll give you an advanced note on the onus for 20 dollars,

payable in this office three days after the ship sails, with you on board.

I think I'll get her one of these.

- Get who? - My granny.

A fine sight the old lady would look sitting in her doorway

in Helensburgh with one of those round her shoulders!

Wouldn't even keep the draught out.

You'd better stay outside and keep your money in your pocket.

- What are you after, then? - I want a Christmas present for Jeannie.

Large beer, please.

Coming up.

Same again, Joe.

- Hiya. - Evening.

- Bit of a collar on it, isn't there? - Sure is.

Muck!

Say...

Let me tell you that you'll find the best beer in Texas in Galveston.

And the best beer in Galveston, right here in this saloon.

- Isn't that right, Joe? - Sure is.

Moreover, Texan beer is the best beer in the United States.

And American beer is the best beer in the world.

Listen, if ever you come to England, I'll take you to The Ship at Faversham

and stand you a pint of Four-X. You don't know what beer is.

As a matter of fact, I'm sailing for England at any moment.

Seems you need somebody's help to win this war,

so I'm coming over to give it to you.

Hmh. Much obliged.

Yeah, and this will show you how set I am in getting there.

I'm even sailing on an English ship.

A lousy old tanker called the San Demetrio.

Let me give you a tip, mate.

There's a British Board of Trade regulation which says that

no man may board a tanker when he's drunk

and the bosuns there to see no one breaks that rule.

"Bosuns?"

I eat 'em raw.

- Five foot ullage here. - She's got her guts full, all right.

- What does that make it altogether? - A bit over 11,000 tonnes.

About three million gallons.

Ah! That'll take a few people to Newmarket!

Oh, now, listen Stutzy, I told you before.

I decided I don't want to sail. I like this town of yours.

I guess I'll just stick around a day or so longer

and take another ship, hm?

Okay, just give me back my 15 and we'll turn right around