Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1964–1968): Season 4, Episode 24 - Edge of Doom - full transcript

Nelson is told the Seaview could be destroyed while carrying a top secret defense weapon but he has to determine if Captain Crane is an impostor.

This is Nelson.
Heard about
my Pentagon call.

MAN: Just came
on the wire, sir.

Well, put them on.

(PHONE BUZZING)

Yes, Admiral.
We were expecting your call.

I just got your message
from the code room.

Now then, I...
One moment.

Would you wait outside?

Now then, if you believe
that Seaview may be attacked
during this mission,

I propose we abort it.
Get the device to Pearl Harbor
by some other means.

Sorry, Admiral.
That would reveal that
we've broken their code.



The mission must proceed
as scheduled.

Even though you believe
that one of my key personnel
may be an imposter.

We've sure of it.
Almost as sure
he's Captain Crane.

Well, in that case,
at least let me relieve
Crane of his command

for this one voyage.

No dice.
And for the same reason.
The code.

In other words,
you people want me
to deliver a device

vital to our defense
with a Captain aboard
who may be himself

or may be an imposter.

Exactly.

And you're not to
tip your hand by any
direct questioning of Crane.

Oh, no, no, no.
What the devil can I do?

No one knows Crane
better than you do.

If he's an imposter,
force him into cracking.



I'm sorry to impose
a situation like this
on you, Admiral,

but it's absolutely necessary.

I'm to take it, then,
that this
is an official order.

You are.

Very well, I'll do my best.

And I want it put
in the record that
I do so under protest.

So noted.

Oh.

Good luck.
Thanks.

You idiots!

All right, follow me.

(NARRATOR READING)

NARRATOR: Voyage to
the Bottom of the Sea.

Where's Chief Sharkey?

He hasn't reported
aboard yet, sir.

Well, we're within
minutes of sailing.

I know, sir.
I've called
the institute gate.

They said
he's somewhere
on the grounds.

You better have
the guards search
the complex for him.

Aye, aye.

Ah! Look at that.
There he is.

You're late, Chief.
You better
have a good reason.

Aye, sir, I have.

What's all this?

Well, sir. I was on my way
over here, and...
Well, sir, I had an accident.

Hmm. How'd it happen?

Oh, it's all my fault.
I was in a hurry,
came around a corner,

bumped into a couple of guys,

and then I had to
go to the infirmary
and get some stitches.

Are you fit for duty?

Oh, yes, sir, I...

There's certainly
nothing to worry about.

Good. I'll tell skipper
we're ready to sail.

Yes, sir.

Sure you're all right, Chief?
This is gonna be a hard crew.

Oh, yes, sir, I've been
looking forward to this.

With the Admiral's permission?

Oh, yeah.

All hands accounted for.
Ready when you are, sir.

Very well, Chip.
Put out to sea.

Aye, aye.

Now, hear this. All hands,
prepare to get underway.

Special sea detail.
Make ready to cast off.

Chip, once we're at sea,
report to my cabin
with Chief Sharkey.

I want to talk to you.

CHIP: Aye, aye, sir.

What was that all about?

(SIGHS) He acted
as though
I weren't here.

Well, come on.
Get us underway.

Aye, aye.

Admiral, you mean
that Washington believes

that one of us
on board is a phony?

That's right, Chief.

Then as far as you know
it could be me
or Chief Sharkey.

Well, yes, yes,
you're both suspects.

I don't get it, sir.
If there's a chance that
either one of us is a fink,

why tell us?

Captain Crane
is the prime suspect.

I need your help
to try to check him out.

In other words,

in spite of the fact
that Sharkey and I
are suspects,

you want us to help you
break down Lee Crane.

Mmm.

But only because
I have no choice.

I'll be keeping an eye on you.
No one is off the hot seat

until the real imposter
is turned up.

You know, sir,
if Mr. Morton or I is the guy
you're looking for,

you've given us warning.

Well, don't worry.
I'm gonna get you
on the spot

where you could
put your own neck
into the noose.

Am I ordered to cooperate?

You are.

Then I suppose
it goes for me, too.

Correct.

Now, sit down. I'm going to
outline a plan that I hope
will take care of Lee.

Uh...

Unless either one of you
would care to end
the problem right now.

By confessing.

Well?

He gave me the course
he wants us to set.

He already gave me a course.

Well, then this
must be a new one.

It is. Why would
he give it to you?

He said it was important.
He didn't want
to have a foul-up.

I see.

I'm just repeating
what I was told.

Don't worry about it, Chip.

And next time you see
the Admiral, tell him
I carried out his orders.

Aye, aye.

Lee.

Yeah?

Nothing.
I'll check all stations
before we dive.

We're at 90 feet.
Drum's satisfactory, sir.

LEE: Very well.

Did you set the course
I ordered?

I took care of it myself.

Good. Good.

You set this course yourself?

What's wrong with it?

Nothing. Nothing at all.
Except that it's not
the course I gave you.

May I see that?

This is the course you gave me.

You still have
the figures
I sent down?

Over here.

(SIGHS) All right.

Well, let's assume
that this time it was
an honest mistake.

Now, will you be
good enough to bring us
to the correct course?

If you need help,

don't hesitate to ask for it.
Just call me in my cabin.

How's that cut?

Oh. It's fine, sir.
Most of the time
I don't even know it's there.

Have the doc
check it out for you.

Don't want to get an infection.

It's fine, sir.
Don't worry
about it. Really.

(SIGHS)

Something wrong, Admiral?

Right now I'm not feeling
very proud of myself.

You mean that little stuff
we pulled on Captain.

That was part
of your whole idea,
wasn't it, sir?

Yes, yes, it is,
but I still don't like it.

Yes, sir.

Do we go on with this, sir?

Mmm. We go on.

Well, in that case,

I have another little thing
I'd like to try,
if it's okay with you, sir.

Yeah. It's all right.

And after that...

All right, all right,
all right, but take them
one at a time.

Now, if you don't mind, Chief.

Aye, sir.

I understand, sir.

Chip.

Yes?

I plotted
the right course,
I know it.

Forget it, Lee.
Everybody makes mistakes.

This was no mistake.

Well, you checked
the paper, didn't you?

Well, somebody
switched papers.
That's got to be it.

The question is, why?

If you want my advice,
you put the whole thing
out of your mind.

It's all over.

Yeah. I suppose
you're right.

Now, Chief.
Sir?

You just came
from the Admiral's cabin,
did you?

Yes, sir.

What did he want?

It was mostly
of a personal nature, sir.

He did ask me
to give you a message.

Well?

About the navigation mistake?

Go on.

The Admiral says
it isn't necessary for you
to enter it in the log.

Oh, he did?
Yes, sir.

Why didn't
he tell me that
in person?

I couldn't say, sir.

Very well.
Go to your station.

Aye, sir.

(MACHINE BEEPING)

KOWALSKI: Skipper.

I had a flash contact, sir.

LEE: The board's clear now.

KOWALSKI: The reading
only lasted
a couple of seconds.

Was it long enough to identify?

I'm not sure, sir,
but it profiled
like another sub.

Did you get a bearing?

Yes, sir.
It was on a collision course.

Twenty degrees right rudder.

Twenty degree right.
Aye, sir.

Getting anything?

No, sir. Not a thing.

Are you sure about
that first reading?

No, sir. Not positive.
Except there was
something there.

All stop.

OPERATOR: All stop, aye.

Break for silent running.
Break for silent running.

Aye, sir.

Nothing.
Keep a close check.

Aye, sir.

Secure silent running.
OPERATOR: Aye, sir.

Resume course's speed.

Aye, aye, sir.

What do you think, Lee?

I don't know.

A thermal layer
sometimes gives you
a false reading like that.

That's probably the explanation.

Yeah, could be.
At least I hope so.

What's going on?

We had a flash contact on sonar.

I'm still trying
to check it out.

Everything looks normal to me.

Kowalski, have you had
any unusual readings?

No, sir.
Just that one.

How long did it last?

Only a few seconds, sir.

The board's
been clear ever since.

I see. On the basis
of that one reading,

you saw fit to put us through
all those maneuvers?

There's always the chance
it was a true reading.

Oh. Yes, yes.
Thousand-to-one chance.

Admiral, I don't believe
in taking unnecessary risks.

NELSON: You should
also know by now,

there's such a thing
as being overly cautious.

LEE: If there's any chance
we're being stalked

by another submarine,
I want to know it.

Lee, come here.

I think it's time
that we had a frank talk.

About what, Admiral?

About you.

Ever since
this crew's began,
I've been observing.

Now, you've been
tense and nervous.

I wasn't aware of it.

Now, if there's
any personal problem
that's bothering you,

I wish you'd tell me about it.

There's nothing wrong with me.
Absolutely nothing.

Mmm-hmm.

Very well.
The offer still stands.
Carry on.

He's a little concerned
about you, isn't he?

I can't figure it out, can you?

Well?

You want it straight?

Yes!

The fact is,
the Admiral has got
a point, in a way.

What are you talking about?

You haven't
been yourself exactly.

In what way?

Like the Admiral says,
nothing definite.
Just an attitude.

Sort of on edge all the time.

Now, don't be ridiculous.

(OVER RADIO) Skipper,
this is Chief Sharkey.

Yes, Chief.
Where are you?

In the circuitry room, sir.

Your station's here.
Who gave you permission
to go down there?

You did, sir.
You ordered me
down here.

I gave you no such order.

Now, get back
to the control room
on the double!

Lee.

What's the matter?

You gave him the order.

What?

You ordered him
to the circuitry room.

I heard you.
Ask any man here.
We all heard you.

Skipper, are you still there?

Skipper!

Have you all lost your minds?

Skipper, can you read me?
This is very important.

The whole life-support
system has failed.

How long's the air been out?

Since you sent me
down here, sir.
About five minutes.

Better do something fast.

Why don't you get
a repair crew in there?

I did, sir.
They can't locate
the trouble.

I'll be right there.
Take over.

Now, where's the trouble?

It seems to be in here, sir.
The air revitalization
controls.

The sign's been moved.
It should be over here.

Skipper, wait.

What?

You're working
on the wrong controls.

The sign's wrong.
I know what I'm doing.

No!

Would you get your hands off me?

Skipper, I know
what I'm talking about.

If you re-plug,
you will bypass
the circuit breakers.

You get out of my way.

Believe me, sir.
You will start a fire.

I said, move!

Fire in the circuitry room!
Fire in the circuitry room!

How's it going?

He's coming out.
He'll be all right.

Good. What about
the fire?

I'll check again.

That's enough.
I'm okay.

Easy, sir. Easy.

Give him another
whiff of oxygen.

The air's out
all over the ship.
It's gotta be fixed.

I'll handle that.
Now, go ahead, Kowalski.

I'm sorry, sir.

(COUGHING)

Fire's out, sir.

You're sure you're okay, skip?

The system's working again.

The Admiral fixed it.

How did the fire start?

When I tried to fix
the air revitalization
console,

the whole thing exploded.

You're sure you were working
on the right console?

Of course I'm sure.

As a matter of fact,
somebody went through
some trouble

to confuse the panels.

In what way?

The air revitalization sign
was switched.

Oh! Really?

Chief. You were in there.
What do you
know about that?

This puts me
in an uncomfortable
spot, sir.

Go ahead, Chief.
Tell him.

Yes, sir.

Well, sir, the skipper
did say something about
a sign having been switched.

I tried to stop him,
but he wouldn't listen.

I know those consoles
with or without signs.

And you maintain
that the sign was switched.

I know it was.
Here, I'll show you.

Well?

It's been switched
back again, I swear it.

All right, Lee.
Let's get out
of here now.

You don't believe me, do you?

I think you've had more
than enough smoking alarms.
Now, out, out!

Chief, where's
Mr. Morton?

Gone up to
the control room, sir.

Chief, I want a word with you.

Aye, sir.

I'm going topside.

What do you know
about that sign in there?

Only that you said
it had been
switched, sir.

It was switched.

I wouldn't know anything
about that, skipper.

You saw where it was,
and where it is now.

Yes, sir.
Where it's always been.

You're lying.

No, sir.

Very well.
I'm gonna find a way
to prove my point,

and when I do, you'll regret it.

Control Room,
this is the Captain.

This is Morton in Control.

We've got smoke
all throughout
the ventilation system.

You will surface at once
and scrub the air.

CHIP: Aye, aye, sir.

Prepare to surface!
Prepare to surface!

Hold it, Chip.

We don't surface.

Delay that.

I've got some work to do,

so if Captain Crane
should come
looking for me...

You'll be in your cabin.

Right.

Anything further, Kowalski?

No, sir.
The board's clear.

Why aren't we coming
to the surface?

I haven't given
the order yet, sir.

I see.
You understood
the order I gave you?

Yes, sir. I was ready
to carry it out.

Then do it. Now.

CHIP: I can't.

You don't debate orders,
you obey them. Now move.

Your order was countermanded
by the Admiral.

The Admiral, huh?

Where is he?

In his cabin.

I've had it.
Up to here.

Admiral!

Oh. Come in.

You countermanded
my direct order
to surface.

I did.

I want this ship on the surface.

And I want it
where it is right now.

On the surface,
I can scrub the ship
of smoke in 10 minutes.

Down here, my men will be
breathing in that stuff
for another 12 hours.

Enough!

I remind you where this stuff,
what you call it, came from.

A fire which you started
by your own stupidity.

This isn't the time
to settle that argument.

All I want right now
is to get the ship
to the surface.

You know, Lee,
I'm worried about you.
I really am.

I've been seriously
considering...

Don't start that again.

For some reason
you've been on my back
ever since we've left port,

and I've had a plateful of it.

And precisely
what do you intend
to do about it?

Right now, I'm taking
this ship to the surface,
and I warn you,

don't try to stop me.

And if I do?

Admiral Nelson,
you listen to me,
and you listen good.

I'm still Captain of this ship,

and I'm responsible
for the lives
of everyone aboard.

Oh, that can be changed.

Then change it!
But until you do,

until you formally relieve me
of my command,

until you kick me off the ship,

that I don't want
another order of mine
countermanded!

I hope I've made myself clear!

Mr. Morton,
I've got the con.

Prepare to surface.
OPERATOR: Aye, sir.

LEE: Blow forward tanks.

OPERATOR: Aye, sir.

LEE: Ten degree,
up-bubble.

Ten degree, up-bubble.

Aye.

Surface. Surface.

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

Yes?

You sent for me, sir?

Right, Chip.

Needless to say,
I think that you went
a little bit too far

with that last experiment.

I hardly have to tell you
that a fire on a submarine

can end in total disaster.

I know that, sir.

That's why I wondered
at the time
why you ordered it.

Well, I didn't order it.
You mean you had
nothing to do with it?

Nothing, sir.

Oh, God. Then it must've
been Sharkey.
I should've guessed.

He has a tendency
to get carried away at times.

Yes, he certainly does.

Mmm-hmm.

Well, find him
and get him up here.

And tell him that,
in my opinion,
Captain Crane is himself.

He's not an imposter.

Aye, aye, sir.

Patterson!

(COUGHING)

Open the door.

Skipper, the door's jammed.

It's not jammed,
someone locked it.

Why would anyone
want to do that?

If I knew, it would
clear up a lot of
unanswered questions.

Sabotage?

Exactly.
But why?

We're carrying
a top-secret defense
weapon aboard.

Somebody's trying
to get their hands on it.

Who could it be, skipper?
There's only our
regular crew on board.

I know. That's exactly
what's bothering me.

I know what you mean, skipper.

Here, I'll tell you what.
Put these in the door.
Take this.

(COUGHS)

All right, plug it in.

(DEVICE BEEPING)

You think it's gonna work?

Let's go.
Now, wait a minute.

Don't say a word
about this to anyone.

Yes, sir.

All right.
Get back on duty.

I'm officially
reporting to you, sir,

that we have
a saboteur
on board.

A saboteur?
Yes, sir.

But who is it?

I don't know yet.

You know,
that's a pretty
serious charge.

You would have to explain it.

Someone set fire
to a box of explosives
in the arms locker.

When I went in
to investigate,
I was locked in.

You have any proof of this?

You can check out my story
with Patterson.

That's very good, Lee.
Very good.

Anything else?

No, sir. A saboteur
loose in the ship
is quite enough.

Well, I suggest
you try to find him,
all right?

I've already ordered the search.

(COUGHS)

Sparks.
Yes, Admiral.

Have Mr. Morton call me
on the private line.

Yes, sir.

(PHONE BUZZING)

Yes?

Chip? Chip, I'm positive
that Lee is in the clear.

I didn't have
any definite proof before,
but I do now.

No, no, no.
Don't tell him
about the plot.

I'll tell him myself
when he's, you know,

not quite so upset.

Besides, I don't want
any change
in his attitude or ours

to tip-off the real saboteur.

Very well. Carry on.

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

Come in.

Mr. Morton said
you wanted to see me, sir.

Yes, Chief.

I think that you're
letting your imagination
run just a little bit wild.

How do you mean?

Well, when I ordered you
to test Captain Crane,

I didn't mean at the expense
of wrecking Seaview.

Sir, I guess
the circuitry room explosion
did get out of hand.

I didn't mean to cause
that much damage.

Yeah, that was rather risky,
but I'm talking about
the arms locker.

The arms locker?

Yeah, when you
started the fire in there,

and then locked the Captain
and Patterson inside.

You could've blown up
the whole ship!

So help me, Admiral,
I didn't do that!

After the mess
in the circuitry room,

I wasn't gonna fool around
with something dangerous,

especially the arms locker!

You mean it wasn't you?

Absolutely not!

(SIGHS)

Well, whoever it was,
he certainly
cleared the Captain.

Um...

How do you figure that, sir?

Well, if Lee Crane
were the imposter,

he would've started the fire,
not put it out.

Oh. Yes, I see
what you mean.

Well, what do we do now?

We've eliminated one man.
All we have is 124 to go.

Admiral Nelson, this is Crane.

The ship's scrubbed of smoke.
Now, what are your orders?

Why ask me?
On this ship, the Captain
gives the orders.

KOWALSKI: Skipper.

(MACHINE BEEPING)

Contact, sir.
No doubt about it this time.

It's a sub, all right.
Headed this way.

What's wrong?

Torpedo, skipper, coming fast.

(EXPLOSION)

Sound General Quarters.

Stand General Quarters.

General Quarters,
General Quarters.

All hands,
man your battle stations.

General Quarters.

(SIREN WAILING)

(GROANING)

OPERATOR 1: Compartment 10,
battle stations
manned and ready.

Very well.

OPERATOR 2: Missile Room,
battle stations
manned and ready.

Very well.

OPERATOR 3: Engine Room,
all stations
manned and ready.

Very well.

It's a little too late
to find him now.

Find who?

The saboteur, of course.

What are you talking about?

Don't you know yet?

Know what?

There was a tip from Washington.

There's supposed to be
a saboteur on board,

impersonating someone
in the ship's company.

Why wasn't I told at once?

The Admiral thought it was you!

Me?

(SIGHS)

So that explains
what's been
happening to me.

(BEEPING)

What are you doing down here?

I'm checking out
the flank,
setting the course.

Checking it for a getaway?

You can't possibly be serious.

I'm dead serious.
Were you preparing
to launch it?

No, no.
Quite the contrary.

I'm trying to prevent anybody
from launching it.

Why?

Well, in case
we're under attack again,

a saboteur
might want to get away
while he can.

How do I know
you weren't preparing
to do just that?

You can't believe that, Lee.

You believed it of me.

Who've you been talking to?
Ah. Ah. Chip. Chip Morton.

What difference does it make?

All right, if you suspect me,

you go right ahead
and try to
launch this vehicle.

Go on, try it.

(SIGHS)

I'm sorry.
I had to be sure.

Well, so did I.

We didn't seem to have
much mutual trust left,
did we?

Come on.
After you.

Well, that cuts out
one avenue of escape.
Carry on, Lee.

OPERATOR: All stations
manned and ready, sir.

Very well.
All stations manned
and ready, sir.

Do you have a fix, Kowalski?

Yes, sir. A good one.
Now stay with it.

Aye, aye, sir.

Sparks, raise
the commander
of that sub.

Aye, sir.

Now, whether he answers or not,

tell him
he can't penetrate
our defense shields.

He's got 60 seconds
to reply, or we'll
blow him out of the water.

Any questions?
No, sir.

This is SSRN Seaview calling.

Missile Room is standing by,
ready to fire on your orders.

Very well.
Where's the Chief?

He never manned
his battle station.

I've been too busy to check.

Well, check now.
I want him located.

SPARKS: I repeat,
you are warned that
your torpedoes cannot,

repeat, cannot reach our hull.

We have a radar fix on you.

I repeat, you are warned
that your torpedoes
cannot reach our hull.

We have a radar fix on you...

(GROANS)

Oh.

This is Chief Sharkey.
This is an emergency.

This is Chief Sharkey.
This is an emergency!

(GROANS)

Nelson Institute
to SSRN Seaview.

Come in, Seaview.

SSRN Seaview,
this is Chief Sharkey
from the Nelson Institute.

Come in.

Sparks, this is Sharkey,
listen. This is
a first-class emergency.

If you are in
radio silence, break it.

Sparks, do you hear me?
Get the skipper to listen!

Sparks!

Easy, easy.

I'm all right, sir.

What happened?

All I know is that
somebody clobbered me.

Next thing I know,
you were standing there.

No idea who it was?

No, sir.

But I've got
a score to settle
with somebody.

I know. We all do,
but first of all,
doc has to check you out.

I'm feeling fine,
Admiral. I'm all right.

Sure, sure.
Let's not take any chances
now. Come on.

Chip, have the missile room
stand by for my order to fire.

Aye, aye, sir.

Skipper.

That sub's moving off the flank.

I guess they got the message.

OPERATOR:
Jet bandits on radar,
approaching fast.

Could be bombers.

Crash dive.

Clear the bridge,
secure all hatches.

OPERATOR: All green, sir.

Dive, dive, dive!

Blow negative full.
OPERATOR: Aye, sir.

Patterson, pull down elevation.

Hard right rudder.
Full 180-degree turn.

180 degree, aye.

All ahead flank.

OPERATOR:
All ahead flank, aye.

That's good maneuvering.
We'll shake them now.

Thanks. I hope so.

(BEEPING)

We've lost them.

Check sickbay
on Spark's condition,

and have a search party
round up the Chief

and bring him here
for questioning.

Aye, aye.

(RUMBLING)

Good, hold her there.
Steady as she goes.

How could they have
spotted us again?

(SIGHS)

Something must've
tipped off our position.

Mmm-hmm.

Or someone.

Well, the pieces all fit.

Our prisoner is an agent,
of course, planted aboard
with a helpless

and very skillful
plastic surgery.

Now, his mission was to
either get this device for
his people, or destroy us.

Yeah, he nearly did.
Is Sharkey all right?

He's fine.
He's waiting for us
back at the Institute.

And the high command
is waiting for us.

We better set a course
for Pearl Harbor.

Well, with a little smoother
sailing this time. I trust.

ENGLISH - US - LINE 21