The Cruel Sea Page #4

for a sick berth attendant.

Not that we'll get one yet,

but there's no harm in trying.

It looks as though

things are warming up.

A couple of years ago, you'd never

have thought this could happen.

A couple of years ago, sir,

my only sea experience

was mucking about in the Solent.

Quite a pretty boat she was.

- How big a crew?

- She was quite pretty, too.

What's the food been lik e

with the cooks on leave?

Greatly improved, sir!

Well, in that case,

I think I'll stay till lunch.

I say, John,

there's a picture of your wife here.

Is there?

Oh, yes.

Doris and I saw the show

the night before last.

You should have let me know.

I'd have got you some free seats.

Oh, we didn't want

to bother you on leave.

It must give you a funny feeling

to see your wife's picture

all over the place.

All I can ever see in the papers

these days is Dunkirk. Did you read...?

Well, well, well!

Good little boys all back

from leave at the proper time.

How did you manage

to drag yourselves away, huh?

Matey lot of so-and-sos, aren't you?

- What's been happening?

- Nothing at all.

I suppose you were slipping ashore

the whole time.

And as for you married men, you had

a wonderful time. Don't tell me!

- Well, yes. It was very nice.

- I bet it was!

I bet you left a bun in the oven,

both of you!

Why doesn't the captain

get rid of him?

It's not so easy in wartime.

- Well, can we get rid of him?

- Nobody can.

- Are you sure?

- He didn't lik e that last convoy.

- Who did?

- But I think he's the worrying type.

Might even get a duodenal ulcer.

That's the classical complaint.

The Navy tak es them very seriously.

Why?

In case something blows up

while you're at sea.

Well, one of us had better tell him.

Well, I wouldn't want him to be in

any doubt as to how to go about it,

just for the want

of a friendly word of advice.

I saw some newsreel stuff

of Dunkirk the other night.

There was an old V and W destroyer

simply packed with troops.

Yes.

You could see someone was trying

to mak e them smile at the camera.

They didn't look

as if they wanted to much.

Well, at least there are...

- That hurt.

- Well, what's the matter?

A terrible pain...

Well, you better go and lie down.

Tak e it easy for a bit.

- It's agony.

- Perhaps you have a bun in the oven.

Yes. Perhaps I better had

lie down for a bit, sir.

Maybe it'll pass off.

Well, bad luck.

Most moving. I imagine there's

nothing we can do to help him?

What are you all grinning at?

Sorry, sir.

I was thinking of something.

When the first lieutenant's in pain,

I shouldn't have thought you'd

be able to laugh at anything else.

From then on,

they'll proceed independently.

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