 One of Radio's outstanding dramatic half-hours, starring Lee Tracy, and presented transcribed by your Army and your Air Force. Radio City, New York, here is your star and host on Proudly We Hail, the distinguished Broadway stage, screen and radio star, Lee Tracy. Thank you, Kenneth Banghart, and hello everyone. Welcome again to Proudly We Hail. Our play is about to see the story of a ship and the man who sailed the border on an ill-fated voyage. I'll return as a mirror, first mate, in just a moment after these words of importance from Ken. Be a volunteer. The United States Army and the United States Air Force need young men and women now more than ever before. Get your nearest Army and Air Force Recruiting Station and get all the details. Make tomorrow's decision today. And now with your star, Lee Tracy, and the role of Dan O'Meara, your Army and your Air Force present the Proudly We Hail production of The Dark Sea. From the beginning there have been some things that have never changed. One of these is the sea and another the men who go down to the sea and ship. This is the story of some of those men, of their ship and of the sea itself. How's the skipper? Ain't hard, I think. Fog's thicker? Yeah, I guess so. Good night to be a shore, even in this hole. Think the skipper will fool through, Mike? Well, that wouldn't be no one, lad. That's all boned up there with him now. I saw the O'Meara bring him aboard. He looked worried. He's a good man, too. If the skipper catches in, he'll be skipper. Where should he think so, unless the firm sends someone down to take over? I can't see him doing that. I mean, it's got his master's papers there to stay so long. I'm going to ask. Want to get some coffee? All right, lad. Let me know. Should there be any news? I'll do that, Mike. Take it easy. We'll have him ready to go in ten minutes. I'm afraid we don't have an ambulance at the hospital. They're not exactly civilized, you know. Use my car for that sort of thing. You think it's safe to move him? Right now, Mr. O'Meara, it's a gamble, whatever we do. Too bad we didn't have a doctor on board. I was going to ask you why you didn't. I thought it was prescribed by law. It is. He jumped ship at the bagel. Oh. Didn't have time to pick up another. How would you like to take his place? Thanks, Noah. I'm very happy here. If you'll get the captain ready, Mr. O'Meara, I'll return presently. Okay, Doc. Oh, watch your step there. Mr. O'Meara, sir. Oh, yeah, Mike. How's the skipper, sir? Not good, Mike. We're going to move him to the hospital here, what there is of it. Well, do you think... I don't know, Mike. I'm just the first mate. Not God. Hi, sir. Is that you, Dan? Yeah, skipper. In a good life, Dan, fair weather and foul. I'm dropping my hook. You're going to be all right, skipper. Sure I am, Dan. You're going to be fine. You will be skipper now. Tell the men they're a good crew. The best. Same and all. Skipper, save your strength. We're going to take you to the hospital. No, you're not Dan alive. This is my ship and this is where I stay. Dan, I have no will for nothing to leave and no one to leave anything to. I want to have my sextance in my book. And if anything else in this cabin you remind me, I've got only one last wish left. A sailorman's wish. Anything you want, skipper. Carry me at sea, Dan. That's all I ask. Come in. Mr. Amir, you were done with the duck. You didn't know you'd come back. How was he? Perkins, looks like you've been promoted from second to first. Skipper's dead. Park, Sundest, Matthews, right away. Captain John Crawford died tonight this morning. Standing by for further orders. Sign that, O'Meara first mate. In now, Mr. O'Meara, get off. Don't bother me, Pinky. Oh, now, Mr. O'Meara. Of course you don't, I say Captain O'Meara. Oh, now, come on. Let's all drink to Captain O'Meara. Will you shut up? It's not Captain anything, see? They're flying a new skipper down here to take over. Now, will you get a new skipper? Yeah, yeah, I know, I know, I know. I know they can find themselves a new first mate as soon as this voyage is done. Here, buy yourself a bathtub full of rum. Where's the first? Busy, what do you want? I'm coming aboard. A business you got with O'Meara. What's your name? My name's Perkins, if it's in the business, what's yours? Mr. Perkins, I want the first mate and I want him fast. Tell him Captain Stone has come aboard. We clear this port in an hour. I'll see him in my cabin. Come in. Oh, did I wake you, Mr. O'Meara? Ah, you're the new captain? I am. Would you like to see my papers or will you take my word for it? Mr. O'Meara, let's understand each other right now. I knew your former skipper casually. I don't know how good a man he was and I don't care. From what I've seen, I'd say this looks like a slack run ship. That isn't the kind of ship I run. I'll expect sick obedience from you and from the crew in turn. My orders will be obeyed. I'll make myself clear, Mr. O'Meara. Aye, you do. Let me remind you that I'm to be addressed as Captain Stone or Sir, whichever you choose. Now, your former captain died two days ago. Is that correct, O'Meara? Let me remind you, sir, that as first mate of this ship, I'm to be addressed as Mr. O'Meara. Mr. O'Meara, don't cross me. I assure you I've broken better men than you. Is it true, Mr. O'Meara, that your former captain died two days ago? It is, sir. What arrangements have you made, Mr. O'Meara, for the burial? It was his last wish, sir, that he be buried at sea. You mean his body is still on board this ship? Yes, sir. Well, get it off, Mr. O'Meara, and get it off fast. I want no bodies on board my ship. You'd not grant a dying man's wish, sir? I would if I could, Mr. O'Meara, but has anyone never told you that there are laws of tenetation? Have the captain's body taken ashore and buried it once. We fail in an hour. You may go, Mr. O'Meara. I think there's one thing you better understand, sir. The crew thought a lot of the skipper. They know what his dying wish was. They intend to help carry it out. If you order the skipper's body taken ashore now, you'll be alone on this ship in five minutes. Have you heard of muke me, Mr. O'Meara? I have, sir, but this ship is in port. If the crew walks off, it's not muke me. They're just quitting their jobs right where y'all have. And you feel that out of sentiment they'll rot in this hole? I do, sir. Give away this turns out, Mr. O'Meara. I'll not forget it. Come in the crew, ass. All right, delay there. I am Captain Stone, your new skipper. I've ordered Mr. O'Meara to have Captain Crawford's body taken ashore and buried before we clear port. He informs me that before such an order could be obeyed, you men would leave the ship. Is that true? Well, speak up. You there, how about you? Say, Captain, pardon. It was the skipper's life. I know all that. I say we sail on the tide and we sail without. The earthly remains of your late lamented master. I demand this for reasons of health. Now who will sail with me? Those who sail under those conditions, step forward. It seems Mr. O'Meara was correct. All right. Captain Crawford will be dropped over the side as soon as we're outside this port. But remember this, all of you. Once at sea, any order I give that is not carried out will be considered mutiny. You've started off on the wrong foot with me and before this voyage is done, I promise you, you'll have reasons to regret it. All of you! I want all heads at their stations. We're cast off at my command. To Smith. You're making up, eh? The glass's been dropping all day. And who cares for a bit of a blow? Maybe we'll be washing these high and mighty nymphs off his brink. I don't know how a miller stands. Leon. What about ourselves? Look at the slave driver he is. Captain Yellenarty was a king. He'd drink rum all the time. I'd be finding me another burst after this trip. Oh, I'd like to smash his head in our woods. No rotten thought he was the wrong one. Why didn't they make no mirror skipper? Will you tell me that? Oh, I don't share my telepathy to the owners thinking I asked them. I'll be a lot, eh? Calling a fire drill in the middle of the night with a damn machine up. Ah, Perk, get less. Perk and what if? Get another bridge. Captain's in his cabin getting drunk. I don't know where Perk's got the bridge. There, I think he's crazy. I got some less polite words. No, I mean if there's nothing in his right mind. You hear him talking to himself? Oh, he's crazy. Can't understand the firm giving him a command like this is a fun to say gut. The sea lion was a good ship. He let it slip by mistake. His sister is married to one of the big boys. Let it get no full mean then. They'll behave, they'll behave as long as I tell them to. It'll be so madder. Perk would like you in these packs right away. Tell Perk he'll be right there, Mike. Listen, Perk, we've seen a lot of weather go by together. But don't let this guy get under your skin. He's not gonna get under mine. But when we make forces, I'm gonna take him apart two, five feet. Won't be much left when everyone on this ship gets through with him. You wanted me, Sparks? Mr. O'Mara, I've been receiving hurricane warnings all day. I sent him out of the captain, but we're still holding the same car. I just gotta call him from San Cristobal. They say it's a real bad blow. If we don't change cars still, Mr. O'Mara, we'll be swept right into it. Where is he live? Well, between here and here. Well, you can see from our course. Thanks, Sparks. I'll notify the captain once. You think you'll beat me, don't you? You think you'll have me like a cropper, but no, not. You're not. I hate you, and I've always hated you, and I bother you to build your mind. The sea. The devil's in the sea. But I'm here. I'm captain of this ship, and you'll never take me. I'm sailor. What the devil do you want? Go away. I said go away. Sorry, sir, I thought you said come in. Oh, you're dead with you. Get out of my cabin, Mr. O'Mara. We're headed right into a hurricane, sir. I'd like permission to change course to West by West. Is that so, huh? A hurry, can you say, huh? And you'd like to change course to West by West. What's the matter, Mr. O'Mara? Afraid of a little wind and sea? You love the sea, don't you, O'Mara? You shouldn't mind when it accepts? I don't love the sea, Mr. O'Mara. I hate it. Then I'll not be ordered by a swim. I'm the master here. Our course is steady as it goes. Change it one degree, then I'll have you and I. Now get out of here! The sea faces starring in the role of Dan O'Mara are first mates. In the proudly-rehealed production of The Dark Sea, we'll return for the second act in just a moment. But first, I'd like to remind the young men and women of America that building up and maintaining the defenses of a nation isn't an easy job. It requires the full cooperation of everyone everywhere. You can do your part by joining the United States Army. You'll be helping yourself, too, because you'll receive some of the finest vocational training in a wide variety of fields. Yes, in the fields for which you're best suited. So go to your nearest Army and Air Force recruiting station and find out these things for yourself. You can be of real service to your country at this crucial time. Join the United States Army today. You are listening to proudly we hail. And now with your starly face in the role of Dan O'Mara, we present the second act of The Dark Sea. Tell them what to call it. The bridge north or west, sir? Change course to west, southwest. All right, sir? I best get pinkie here on a bridge. Hold it. Ready as she goes. Ready as she goes, sir. Engine room. Yes, sir. Now, Kenzie, this is O'Mara. How are things? What are you doing up there, Bob? I think it's much rubber. I'll have to make some pliers. All right, Ken, Max. We're trying to head her out of it. Can you give me a couple of more knots? Sure, if you want to lose the screw. Well, give me what you can stand by. All right, what else would I stand unless it was on my head? Yeah, get it. Give Mike a hand, there. The bridge, O'Mara here. Stand with it. I know it. I'm trying to get out of this thing. I'm worried about you. How many men you got down there? First down there was all I could have. I haven't shoveled as much of that stuff as I can to the starboard. They're hard on us now. Good. Keep me posted. I'll be on the bridge. Keepers. The first one really had us on our beam. What's the time? I've had it at the end of the wind, Ken. That's all. You have to change course. When I give orders, not to. Is that correct, Mr. O'Mara? That is correct. I only wish I'd done it soon. Set off this bridge. You're no longer the first speed on this dip. I don't have your favorites for this. Put this dip back on your horse. You out of your mind. Get out of here. Heldman, you heard me. Captain Stone. What do you want? What do you want me to do, Mr. Perkins? Come down there and bail for it. Pump and leave the bulkhead doors closed. Are you going to pay my orders? You want to live cheaper there no matter what he says. Take in a nap. Try to put her back on her horse. Get those bulkhead doors closed. Get out of there. Back to the after wheelhouse. We'll manage from there. Bridge is about ready to go. Stop to it. I'll take the wheel and you take over. All right. Captain Steeke, we'll make it as fast as we can. That's more, Max. We'll hold it from here. If it gets any worse. Where's Mr. O'Meara? What? We left him on the bridge. We figured he was stored. Did you hear what? The bridge was swept away. I haven't seen O'Meara. Put her back on her horse, I say. Captain, they come back. I command here. I'll have you wall up on your stage. Mr. First, I ask you forward where you belong. They came after Jester, Mr. O'Meara. Mr. O'Meara is no longer enough. He struck me after a jet-for-paying order. That's a break-in-law. And I do. Take a word I wish. I'm sorry, Captain. We need two men on the help. Don't tell me what we need. We're party on Jester, sir. Bridge is no longer there. I've been up there. Everything is washed away. He'll not sleep me. Nor will you die, I don't say. And now where is he? You need to find him on his ship. If the sea rejects you, Mr. O'Meara, it would seem so. What happened then? I went with the bridge, but I was lucky. I got washed on a companion way, and that's silly. But Captain Stone isn't responsible for his actions. I want you to help put him where he won't get into any trouble. I'm with you. I won't ask you, man. We can handle it a little longer. Become peaceably, Captain. No! No, Mr. O'Meara! What are you supposed to do? Who knows? The sea, maybe. Does that to some of us? What do you tell your third? If it's agreeable what the crew will say was lost on the bridge one, wouldn't leave his post. That's the least we can do for him. I'm a dandy. Why did he follow it? Why does a man follow a woman that's no good for him? Why does a man drink? He knows it'll make him a running. Why do you follow the sea, Perk? Because it's in your blood. Once it gets into your blood, you can never get it out. No matter whether you love it, hate it, hear it, or respect it. That's the way it is. Yes, I'll have a word with him. He says he will return in a moment with a word about next week's show. But first, a word to young men interested in all fields of electronics. Right up front with the fighting man is the communications man, trained and equipped by the United States Army. The man with the headphones is just as essential as the man with the gun, because someone has to guide the man with the gun to make up a fighting team. And the necessary guidance comes by radio and telephone. So if you're skilled in radio, radar, communications, and the like, you're needed now by the United States Army. You can serve your country to the best of your ability, and at the same time learn about the most up-to-date equipment in your field by getting on the Army team. Find out about it today. Visit your nearest Army and Air Force recruiting station. Join the Army now. This has been another program on Proudly We Hail. We sent it in cooperation with this station by your Army and your Air Force. Proudly We Hail stars Lee Tracy. And featured as Captain Stone was Joseph Desander. The dark sea was written by DeWitt Cuff. The music was composed and conducted by John Guarnere. Proudly We Hail is directed by Charles Willis. This is Kenneth Banghart speaking. And here again is your host and star, Lee Tracy. Next week, join me on an expedition into the Congo. A story of treachery and revenge. Our play will be The Interloper. I'm sure you'll want to listen. Goodbye.