Phantom

MAN:
My crew has just returned

from 76 days at sea.

(PHONE RINGING NEARBY)

The Americans are massing

naval assets in the Pacific.

There must be a dozen boats

better rested.

Squadron Command is insisting

on the most experienced

captain and crew available.

I'm being retired, remember?

You should know that.

Your signature's all over the transfer.

Even if I wasn't,

my boat will be in dry dock for months.

You won't be sailing your boat.

You'll be sailing the B-67.

(HELICOPTER FLYING OVERHEAD)

The irony is a bit excessive,

don't you think?

MAN:
Under the circumstances,

we were unable to get all of

your crew back from holiday.

Naturally, they'll be replaced.

The 67 is being decommissioned.

Considering your history,

command wanted to honor you

with her last patrol.

Honor me?

The Navy's an unforgiving place.

We're both proof of that.

What'll happen to her after?

Will they cut her up in Polyarny

or just let her bleed rust in Murmansk?

She'll be stripped of her sensitive

equipment, refitted for her new life...

...in the Chinese navy.

- (SCOFFS)

I'd rather see her on the bottom

than sold to our enemies.

A nuclear navy has

to be subsidized, Demi.

What better way to profit than by

arming Peking with our museum pieces.

(POURING DRINK)

I read the academy's gonna

be named for your father.

That's right.

Greatness casts a long shadow.

Do you think we can be redeemed

for the things we've done?

I don't know.

In our dreams, maybe.

And if there is such a thing,

it surely requires opportunity.

And here she is, knocking.

Two lovely ladies and two bottles!

Now...

- Oh, yeah.

- There...

- No, no, no, no, no!

...and there.

- Here...

- (LAUGHTER)

(OVERLAPPING CHATTER,

LAUGHTER INSIDE)

MAN:
And fill it up

for my soon-to-be-married friend, Sasha!

- (LAUGHTER, CHEERING)

- (INDISTINCT CHATTER)

Captain on deck!

- (ROOM QUIETING)

- (WOMAN SINGS SONG IN RUSSIAN)

(CLEARING THROAT)

(INDISTINCT WHISPERS)

To men of salt,

the women who endure us,

and to my friend, our captain.

ALL:
The captain!

(COUGHING)

(SIGHING)

Three weeks back,

I'm still spittin' up diesel.

MAN:
Maybe life will be sweeter without

the taste of fuel oil in your mouth.

(LOW CHATTER,

LAUGHTER RESUMES)

You'd better take a look at this.

- MAN:
Don't fight me now!

- (INDISTINCT CHATTER)

Listen up.

(LOW CHATTER CONTINUES)

We're to return to sea.

- What?

- Take the ladies.

- (STUTTERS) Take-take-take them.

- Come on.

- (MUSIC STOPS)

- Let's go.

We're supposed to have three months

back, not-not-not three weeks.

Captain, I'm getting married to Nadya.

(LOW WHISPERS)

Say your good-byes quickly

and without explanation.

You have until 1400 hours.

Sorry, gentlemen.

- (SIGHING)

- This is sh*t!

(RAIN PATTERING OUTSIDE)

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

I'm sorry, Sophi.

MAN:
And grant length of days,

fair children, progress in life

and faith through the prayers

of the holy Theotokos

and all of his saints.

Only God now can separate

what he hath joined here today.

(GIGGLES)

- All right, sailor, stand down.

- (WOMAN GIGGLES)

(CHUCKLES)

Congratulations, Nadya.

- Thank you, Captain.

- (CLATTERING)

You'll grow into it.

You have two hours.

(CHUCKLES) Thank you, Captain.

Congratulations.

(DOOR CLOSING)

I remember you standing here

when you made your vows.

It seems a long time ago.

You wonder why he is silent

and you have so many questions.

It was always, pretty much,

a one-way conversation.

Thank you, Father,

for getting up so early.

It's as much about what he hears

as what he says.

Would you like to make a confession?

Confession for what?

Thank you, Father.

- (MEN SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY)

- (MACHINERY WHIRRING)

(OVERLAPPING CHATTER)

Captain.

- Captain.

- Mr. First Officer.

Do you know what's going on?

Sophi baked us some tea cakes.

(CHUCKLES) You realize that we're

supposed to sail this thing.

- Yes, I do.

- Yeah. What happened with Markov?

Ship is fueled, sir.

Batteries are serviced.

Weapons systems are

being loaded and inspected.

I'm sorry we cut

into your honeymoon, Golov.

Well, we made the most of it, Captain.

I'm sure you did.

(GRUNTING)

Captain.

Account for all ship's company.

I want a full report.

- SASHA:
Aye, Captain.

- Would you like a tea cake?

- Thank you, sir.

- No, thank you.

MAN:
I didn't think you could

go backwards from a diesel,

but we're gonna need an archeologist

just to start this thing.

Look at this thing. I mean...

She was my first boat.

We share a lot of history.

Markov wanted me

to have her last sail.

Last chance.

Thank you.

MAN:
Captain.

These are technicians

from the Special Projects Institute.

They'll be joining us on this cruise.

They're testing

some kind of prototype equipment.

DEMl:
You ever been to sea before?

Oh, we've spent

some time on ships, yes.

- Skimmer's a vacation, Mister?

- Bruni.

Mr. Bruni. This ship barely accommodates

the 86 men required to sail her.

We'll try to stay out

of your way then.

Good luck with that.

DEMl:
Mr. Pavlov will see you

to your berths. Stow your gear.

We'll sail with the tide.

Captain.

It's good to see you again.

Gentlemen? This way.

- (OVERLAPPING CHATTER)

- (BELL RINGING)

(CHATTER CONTINUES)

- (BELL RINGING)

- (MACHINERY HISSING)

MAN:
Lock the hatch!

(MACHINERY HISSING)

(CHIRPING)

Captain on deck.

As you were.

MAN:
The last of the replacements

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