They Were Expendable Page #2

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Just scared.

You haven't got

a monopoly on that.

What are you looking at?

Just looking for the Arizona

to come steaming up to base...

...with her 14-inch guns blazing...

...and the best cook stoves

in the Navy.

Arizona?

Arizona.

Some Army boys told us a Jap task force

is headed for Lingayen Gulf.

- Planes spotted it at sunset.

- Must be another landing.

Lingayen?

Give me those scissors, Doc.

That's only about

200 miles from here.

Two thirty-five.

Why don't we knock those babies off?

What with? A cake of soap

and a bathtub? Give me that pencil.

Mr. Brickley, the admiral, sir.

Right away.

Check your gasoline.

Feel better?

Take over.

Line up your engines, check all boats.

Step on it, men.

Fire in the paint locker.

- Yes?

- Brickley.

Mr. Brickley, sir.

You sent for me?

Yes, get a boat ready

to move my staff to Corregidor.

You'll run messenger trips

between Manila and The Rock.

Work out a schedule

with the Chief of Staff.

Cavite is finished as a base.

Move your outfit

to Sisiman Cove on Bataan.

Is that all, sir?

That's all.

Is it true that a Jap task force

is moving into Lingayen Gulf, sir?

Type that and send it.

Sit down, Brickley.

That task force will land.

You and I can't stop it.

Pearl Harbor was a disaster,

like the Spanish Armada.

Listen, son...

...you and I are professionals.

If the manager says, "Sacrifice,"

we lay down a bunt...

...and let somebody else

hit the home runs.

We know about those destroyers...

...out of commission,

tied up around San Diego.

We could use them here...

...but they're not around.

They won't be.

Our job is to lay down

that sacrifice.

That's what we were trained for.

That's what we'll do.

Understand?

Thank you.

All set, sir.

Secure your boats.

Secure the boats?

Shorty, take the admiral

and his staff to Corregidor.

Lefty, you stand by to run

a messenger trip daily at 900.

The rest of you

take your boats to Sisiman Cove.

You join us there.

Are you kidding, Brick?

Theirs not to reason why,

theirs but to do-

And die.

I don't want to be bored

to death running messages.

I'll see that you get

the more intriguing ones.

Does that help?

Any chow, Brick?

- Razor blades and toothpaste.

- That's a swell diet.

- What's the dope, Skipper?

- Jap transports landed up north.

They're giving Bataan the works.

- Good morning, sir. Any dope?

- No dope.

Good morning, sir.

A message just came in.

And Admiral Blackwell wishes

to see you immediately. Very urgent.

Thank you.

Probably wants us to carry

a message to Garcia.

Cross, stand by with that 41 boat.

Let's use those razor blades.

Chief, I want you to keep

sanitary precautions at all times.

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