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Rescue at sea

C.: You woke me up.

S.: Sorry, sir.

C.: Right, then. What's the problem, Seaman?

S.: Sir, there's an unidentified target off to the...the...the, uh, left of the boat.

C.: Port side, Seaman.

S.: Yes, sir. Sorry, sir.

C.: Well, hand me the glasses, then.

S.: Sir.

C.: The binoculars, Seaman.

S.: Right. Yes, sir.

C.: Well, I'll be. Seaman, take a look at this.

S.: Sir?

C.: Seaman, I want you to step over here to the rail and take a look through the glasses.

S.: Sir, I wear glasses already.

C.: The binoculars, Seaman.

S.: Oh. Right. Yes, sir.

C.: Take a look there.

S.: I see something, sir.

C.: What do you see?

S.: I see an unidentified object, sir.

C.: Sea -- give me those. You see worse than our radar.

S.: Sir, yes, sir.

C.: That looks like a person out there, to me.

S.: A person, sir.

C.: You concur?

S.: No, sir. I mean, yes, sir. I mean, I'm simply responding, sir.

C.: Well, Seaman, would you agree that that's a person?

S.: Sure, sir.

C.: Good. We're going to change course a moment to investigate. If it's not a person, my report will confirm that you spotted a human in the water and suggested we change course, thereby costing the United States Navy approximately two hundred thousand dollars per yard off course.

S.: (swallows) Sir...yes, sir.

C.: Right. Navigator, take us eight degrees west by northwest.

N.: Sir, turning eight degrees west by northwest.

C.: Seaman, I want you to gather the ship physician and the dive master on deck.

S.: Yes, sir.



P.: Can we get any closer? I can't be sure.

D.: I can't see a thing. Too dark.

C.: Here, try the glasses.

D.: I wear contact lenses. It's too dark.

C.: The binoculars.

D.: Right, sir. Uh -- I still can't tell, sir. Looks like driftwood to me.

C.: Doctor?

P.: I can't be sure what that is.

C.: Navigator, swing us alongside a moment. Let's take a look.

N.: Yes, sir.

C.: Seaman, I want you to call out to that unidentified object.

S.: Call out, sir?

C.: I want you to ask if whoever or whatever that is needs help.

D.: They're floating in the ocean. I'd say they need help.

C.: Seaman. Go ahead.

S.: Uh...hello? Hello down there?

C.: With authority, Seaman.

S.: Right. Um. Hello down there!

C.: Oh, screw it. (yells) This is the captain of the U.S.S. Barcelona. If there is anyone within the sound of my voice and you need help, please respond.

S.: I don't hear anything, sir.

C.: Shhh.

P.: I agree, sir. I hear nothing.

D.: Wait -- you hear that?

C.: What?

D.: It, uh, just quacked.

C.: Quacked.

D.: Right. It made a quacking sound.

C.: Doctor, why would someone make a quacking sound?

P.: Well, if they were a duck or some other bird, they might make a quacking sound.

C.: Humans, doctor. Humans.

P.: Acute oceanosis might result in that.

C.: Can we safely assume that this person is unable to respond to our offer of assistance and therefore needs assistance?

P.: ... Uh, sir, you can assume that if you like.

C.: Seaman, get a rope.

S.: Sir?

C.: A rope, Seaman. You're going down there.

S.: Sir, I'm --

C.: Get a rope!

S.: Yes, sir.

D.: Sir, you're sending him down?

C.: Yes. The boy needs balls.

D.: Yes, perhaps, but I have an oxygen mask and a diving suit. Maybe I'm better suited for --

C.: Shut up. Go find your boyfriend.

D.: Sir?

C.: Go away.

D.: Yes, sir.

P.: Look, sir, I think I should say that I don't believe that's a person down there.

C.: Seaman says it's a person, it's a person. Anything other than that, it's on his head.

P.: Yes, sir. Should I --

C.: You should go away, too.

S.: I have a rope, sir.

C.: Good. I'll hold this end and lower you down.

S.: Sir, what if --

C.: Hang on tight, Seaman.

S.: Whoa!

C.: You alright, Seaman?

S.: I'm a little afraid of heights, sir. My hands are sweating.

C.: Is that a person down there?

S.: Uh -- sir, sorry, sir, but it's a duck.

C.: A duck!

S.: Sir, please, my hands are slipping.

C.: A (censored) duck!

S.: Sir, I -- agh!

C.: Seaman?

S.: (glug)

C.: Swim, Seaman!

S.: (sputter)

C.: You can swim, can't you? You're in the (censored) Navy!

S.: (blurp)

C.: Huh. Well. Uh, attention. All men on deck. Man overboard.



P.: So it wasn't a duck?

D.: I swear I should be down there.

C.: No, not a duck.

P.: It was a person?

C.: It was Seaman.

P.: But he was --

C.: Shut up. Let's go get the boy.

09:48AM | 05.30.02 | file this« previous | archive | next »