Scott of the Antarctic

'September 9th 1904.'

'Onboard the Discovery, homeward bound from the Antarctic.'

'I hope I've added to the knowledge

gleaned by Cook, Sir James Ross...

and other explorers before me, but I've only touched the fringe.'

'I leave behind a whole continent... vast, mysterious, inhospitable...

and still, to all intents and purposes, unknown.'

- Well, good night, Scott. - Good night, sir.

I'm sorry, that's how the land lies.

Thank you.

Good luck to you.

Sit up a little, Con.

- Hmm? - Sit up.

Sorry.

What's wrong? You can't go ahead.

We can go ahead, but the Treasury won't give us the money.

Is that very bad?

Yes. It means I get the men but not the backing.

I'd have to make a public appeal.

Why don't you?

I might lose my chance in the Navy.

Then I'd need another job.

And that would mean discomfort and unpleasantness for you.

As far as I'm concerned, I'd take it on any day.

As far as we're concerned, any day. You knew the Antarctic before me.

I always knew you'd go back and I'm not the least jealous.

In fact, I don't think I'd love you as much if you didn't. Don't move.

Remember walking along the sands, after the tide had gone out?

I asked what exploring meant to you.

Yes.

The sands were still wet and you said

"The fascination of making the first footmarks."

I'm a very, very lucky man.

Now, what shall it be?

"I appeal with confidence," or "I confidently appeal"?

"It is with confidence that we appeal."

Lunch.

Lunch is ready, dear.

Just in time, Oriana.

- What is it? - A flea. A rare one.

Just hold him while I get some spirit to preserve him.

No ordinary flea, Oriana, I'll send it to Rothschild's collection.

I might as well send him my souffle.

Is that done now?

Yes, quite done.

Never mind. How's the drawing going?

"Natterer's bat." Lovely name.

Oh, isn't it heavenly here, all on our own?

Except for dead bats.

And grouse. I wish they wouldn't send them to you on holiday.

I'll go and see.

Natterer's bat. Natterer's bat.

Did you hear me, Mrs Wilson? I suppose you couldn't help it.

I left the car exhausted by the gate.

- How far have you come? - Nearly a mile. Bill about?

- Do you want him? - I do, rather.

- He's working, you know. - Yes, I know.

- He's... - Working.

Come along.

It's Captain Scott.

- Hello, Con. - Hello, Bill.

- Haven't seen much of you lately. - He's been on honeymoon.

I've been rather busy, but we hope to have a honeymoon, some day.

Well, Con, what's up?

Shackleton hasn't done it, Bill.

Nearly, but not quite. I'm going back.

Shall we go in?

Mind if I kick it up a bit?

No, carry on, they're your boots. How far did Shackleton get?

He got within 90 miles of the pole.

- Isn't 90 miles near enough? - No, because it isn't... it.

It's not the South Pole. That's still there waiting.

And I think an Englishman should get there first.

What do you say?

I work for the Grouse Commission.

That's no obstacle. We shan't leave for at least a year.

My exploring days are over.

I don't want to get there first, just for the sake of it.

- But... - If it was a different proposition...

If the plan was to finish what we began on the Discovery expedition.

That is the idea, Bill, that's it.

We'll work right up to the pole. It'll be the best expedition ever.

Dozens of scientists under that most eminent scientist, Dr Wilson.

Heavens, that is different.

Come with me, Bill.

I couldn't let him go without me, could I, Oriana?

No.

Thank you.

I wonder if the motor will start.

Yes, I wonder. You can't go without eating.

No, of course not.

That's the fly you caught the two-pounder on. Remember?

Yes. A long time ago now.

Look, the gut's all perished.

So it is.

Oh, darling! Darling!

- Morning, Teddy. - Oh, good morning, sir.

What have you got there?

Well, it's a sort of cash chart.

That's the target. The date's there. That's contributions coming in.

Hmm. Long way to go yet.

- Anything in the post? - Not much money, plenty of people.

"Dear Sir, if I could join your expedition,

I would become a British subject."

This boy says, "My dormitory's cold so I'm sure I'd be all right."

Let him down lightly. Anything else?

No cheques. Details of your lectures

Sir, there's a young lady here about a dog.

Dog?

Oh, show her in, Caroline.

- Name, please, miss? - Helen Field.

Chair, Teddy. Please sit down, Miss Field.

Thank you. I've brought you the money for a sledge dog.

You said we might.

Very kind of you. My name is Scott.

- I know. - This is Evans, my second in command.

I didn't know that. How are you?

- How are you, Teddy? - Very well, thank you.

Here's the envelope with the money. from the school. And...

Miss Field, when business firms send us cheques, we're pleased enough...

but, somehow, this means more.

Please thank them tremendously. How many are there?

300, nearly.

Please thank them all.

We name the dogs after the schools that give them.

What's yours called?

The South Hampstead High School for Girls.

We better just call him Hampstead.

On such a dirty night to hear this talk.

During the past few days, I have had the pleasure,

I should say the great pleasure...

of addressing meetings all over the country.

And knowing, as I do, the rivalry that exists among our towns, er, cities...

I hope that, as the result of this rivalry,

I shall be able to report to my committee in London...

that your city has gone one,

if not a great deal, better than your fellow cities.

Er, thank you.

We're very grateful to Capt Scott...

for coming to give us this account of the Antarctic.

If anyone wants to ask questions, Captain Scott will answer them.

Mr Chairman, I'm not averse to serving the national interest.

But why must this country send another expedition?

What about the Norwegians, Nansen?

Nansen gave up polar exploration.

What about that other feller?

Amundsen is making for the North Pole not the South.

What's the difference?

What's the prospect of trade between us and the South Pole?

Is there any coal down there, anything I can buy or sell?

Sorry we didn't raise more, but I suppose every penny counts.

Can I drop you at the station?

- No, please don't bother. - Then good night and good luck.

Thank you. Good night.

Captain Scott?

Yes.

Glad I've caught you.

I've come from India, want to join your show.

Good with horses.

You came 6,000 miles to join me?

- Yes, sir, landed this morning. - Who are you?

Oates. I'm with the Innis killings.

Hmm. No sense in getting soaked.

That's better.

- Cavalry man, eh? - Yes, sir, Dragoons.

Know anything about the Antarctic?

Only what I've read.

If you're taking ponies, I'll come in handy.

- Fit? - As a fiddle.

- Age? - 29.

- Married? - No.

- It'll be tough. - I know.

As Hades.

But not so warm.

But I think we can manage it.

- We? - That's what I said.

You'll take me?

Glad to. You're on the strength.

- I say! - Here's a tram. Come on.

I say, just a moment.

This any good?

- This is for £1,000. - Yes. Any good?

'Instead of waiting for the money to come in,

I'm trying out my motor sledges.'

You see, Dr Nansen?

The wheels make a road as it goes along.

- What do you think of it? - Yes, what do you think?

- Dr Nansen doesn't like motors, dear. - That is so. I like dogs.

We should use modern inventions...

Somebody's got to try things out.

I'd take a wireless telegraph but it's too heavy.

Right, Captain, but I like dogs.

That's what Amundsen says.

I've heard his plans to go to the North Pole.

Amundsen's my pupil, so, of course, he believes in dogs.

I'd hate to repeat my experience on the Discovery expedition.

We look on dogs rather differently.

More as friends.

Captain, a friend in need is a friend indeed.

The Antarctic is cold and cruel.