Scott of the Antarctic

'September 9th 1904.

'Onboard the Discovery, homeward bound from the Antarctic.'

'I hope I've added to the knowledge gleaned by Cook, Sir James Ross...

'and other explorers before me, but I've only touched the fringe.'

'I leave behind a whole continent - vast, mysterious, inhospitable...

'and still, to all intents and purposes, unknown.'

-Well, good night, Scott.

-Good night, sir.

-I'm sorry, that's how the land lies.

Thank you.

Good luck to you.

Sit up a little, Con.

-Hmm?

-Sit up.

Sorry.

What's wrong? You can't go ahead.

We can go ahead, but the Treasury won't give us the money.

-Is that very bad?

-Yes. It means I get the men but not the backing.

I'd have to make a public appeal.

Why don't you?

I might lose my chance in the Navy.

Then I'd need another job.

And that would mean discomfort and unpleasantness for you.

As far as I'm concerned, I'd take it on any day.

As far as WE'RE concerned, any day. You knew the Antarctic before me.

I always knew you'd go back and I'm not the least jealous.

In fact, I don't think I'd love you as much if you didn't. Don't move.

Remember walking along the sands, after the tide had gone out?

-I asked what exploring meant to you.

-Yes.

The sands were still wet and you said, "The fascination of making the first footmarks."

I'm a very, very lucky man.

Now, what shall it be?

"I appeal with confidence," or "I confidently appeal"?

"It is with confidence that we appeal."

BIRDSONG

Lunch.

Lunch is ready, dear.

Just in time, Oriana.

-What is it?

-A flea. A rare one.

Just hold him while I get some spirit to preserve him.

No ordinary flea, Oriana, I'll send it to Rothschild's collection.

I might as well send him my souffle.

Is that done now?

Yes, quite done.

Never mind. How's the drawing going?

"Natterer's bat." Lovely name.

Oh, isn't it heavenly here, all on our own?

Except for dead bats.

And grouse. I wish they wouldn't send them to you on holiday.

MOTOR CAR BACKFIRES

I'll go and see.

Natterer's bat. Natterer's bat.

Did you hear me, Mrs Wilson? I suppose you couldn't help it.

The car's exhausted by the gate.

-How far have you come?

-Nearly a mile. Bill about?

-Do you want him?

-I do, rather.

-He's working, you know.

-Yes, I know.

-He's...

-Working.

Come along.

It's Captain Scott.

-Hello, Con.

-Hello, Bill.

-Haven't seen much of you lately.

-He's been on honeymoon.

I've been rather busy, but we hope to have a honeymoon, some day.

Well, Con, what's up?

Shackleton hasn't done it, Bill.

Nearly, but not quite. I'm going back.

Shall we go in?

Mind if I kick it up a bit?

No, carry on, they're your boots. How far did Shackleton get?

He got within 90 miles of the pole.

-Isn't 90 miles near enough?

-No, because it isn't it.

It's not the South Pole. That's still there waiting.

And I think an Englishman should get there first.

What do you say?

I work for the Grouse Commission.

That's no obstacle. We shan't leave for at least a year.

My exploring days are over.

I don't want to get there first, just for the sake of it.

-But...

-If it was a different proposition...

If the plan was to finish what we began on the Discovery expedition.

That is the idea, Bill, that's it.

We'll work right up to the pole. It'll be the best expedition ever.

Dozens of scientists under that most eminent scientist, Dr Wilson.

Heavens, that is different.

Come with me, Bill.

I couldn't let him go without me, could I, Oriana?

No.

Thank you.

I wonder if the motor will start.

Yes, I wonder. You can't go without eating.

No, of course not.

That's the fly you caught the two-pounder on. Remember?

Yes. A long time ago now.

Look, the gut's all perished.

So it is.

Oh, darling! Darling!

-Morning, Teddy.

-Oh, good morning, sir.

What have you got there?

Well, it's a sort of cash chart.

That's the target. The date's there. That's contributions coming in.

Hmm. Long way to go yet.

-Anything in the post?

-Not much money, plenty of people.

"Dear Sir, if I could join your expedition, I would become a British subject."

This boy says, "My dormitory's cold so I'm sure I'd be all right."

Let him down lightly. Anything else?

No cheques. Details of your lectures

Sir, there's a young lady here about a dog.

Dog?

Oh, show her in, Caroline.

-Name, please, miss?

-Helen Field.

Chair, Teddy. Please sit down, Miss Field.

Thank you. I've brought you the money for a sledge dog. You said we might.

Very kind of you. My name is Scott.

-I know.

-This is Evans, my second in command.

-I didn't know that. How are you?

-How are you, Teddy?

-Very well, thank you.

Here's the envelope with the money. from the school. And...

Miss Field, when business firms send us cheques, we're pleased enough...

but, somehow, this means more.

Please thank them tremendously. How many are there?

300, nearly.

Please thank them all.

We name the dogs after the schools that give them. What's yours called?

The South Hampstead High School for Girls.

We better just call him Hampstead.

..on such a dirty night to hear this talk.

During the past few days, I have had the pleasure, I should say the great pleasure...

of addressing meetings all over the country.

And knowing, as I do, the rivalry that exists among our towns, er, cities...

I hope that, as the result of this rivalry,

I shall be able to report to my committee in London...

that your city has gone one,

if not a great deal, better than your fellow cities.

Er, thank you.

RIPPLE OF APPLAUSE

We're very grateful to Captain Scott...

for coming to give us this account of the Antarctic.

If anyone wants to ask questions, Captain Scott will answer them.

Mr Chairman, I'm not averse to serving the national interest.

But why must this country send another expedition?

What about the Norwegians, Nansen?

Nansen gave up polar exploration.

What about that other feller?

-Amundsen is making for the North Pole not the South.

-What's the difference?

LAUGHTER

What's the prospect of trade between us and the South Pole?

Is there any coal down there, anything I can buy or sell?

Sorry we didn't raise more, but I suppose every penny counts.

Can I drop you at the station?

-No, please don't bother.

-Then good night and good luck.

Thank you. Good night.

Captain Scott?

Yes.

Glad I've caught you. I've come from India, want to join your show.

Good with horses.

You came 6,000 miles to join me?

-Yes, sir, landed this morning.

-Who are you?

Oates. I'm with the Inniskillings.

Hmm. No sense in getting soaked.

That's better.

-Cavalry man, eh?

-Yes, sir, Dragoons.

Know anything about the Antarctic?

Only what I've read. If you're taking ponies, I'll come in handy.

-Fit?

-As a fiddle.

-Age?

-29.

-Married?

-No.

-It'll be tough.

-I know.

-As Hades.

But not so warm.

But I think we can manage it.

-We?

-That's what I said.

You'll take me?

Glad to. You're on the strength.

-I say!

-Here's a tram. Come on.

I say, just a moment.

This any good?

-This is for £1,000.

-Yes. Any good?

'Instead of waiting for the money to come in,

'I'm trying out my motor sledges.'

CHEERING

You see, Dr Nansen? The wheels make a road as it goes along.

-What do you think of it?

-Yes, what do you think?

-Dr Nansen doesn't like motors, dear.

-That is so. I like dogs.

We should use modern inventions - somebody's got to try things out.

I'd take a wireless telegraph but it's too heavy.

Right, Captain, but I like dogs.

That's what Amundsen says. I've heard his plans to go to the North Pole.

Amundsen's my pupil, so, of course, he believes in dogs.

I'd hate to repeat my experience on the Discovery expedition.

We look on dogs rather differently.

More as friends.

Captain, a friend in need is a friend indeed.

The Antarctic is cold and cruel.

Even worse than the North.

A dog is an animal. When finished,

he's still useful to other dogs and even man, if need be.

That machine, when it is finished, is just a heap of metal in the snow.

You cannot eat it.

True. I'm not forgetting the lessons of the past.

But I want the new things, as well. I shall take dogs, ponies and motors.

I would take dogs, dogs and dogs.

Hello, Bill. Morning, Teddy.

-How's Kathleen?

-Splendid. Come in. Morning, Atch.

-And the baby?

-Wonderful - bald as a coot.

Morning, sir.

I'd know that mug anywhere. Come out of it, Taff Evans.

I was surprised you didn't apply to come with me this time, Evans.

I knew you'd send for me eventually.

-My release is through at last.

-There's no hurry, Bill.

-Morning, sir.

-Morning, Teddy. Look.

The rate the money's coming in, you can carve grouse until Christmas.

-It's depressing. Time's getting on.

-None of us are getting any younger.

"11.30 - Bowers"? I told you not to make any more appointments.

He came from the Persian Gulf, sir.

I couldn't say you wouldn't see him.

Hmm. Indian Marine Lieutenant.

-Doesn't say how old he is.

-26, sir. Today, as a matter of fact.

-May I come in, sir?

-You are, aren't you?

There's more to come, sir, with permission. The door was open.

True.

I heard my name. I did mention my age, sir. There, sir. 26.

Is that real, or something stuffed inside your coat?

Quite real, sir.

Hmm. Bill, how's this?

Well, I'd rather he hit Teddy than me. May he hit Teddy?

-Mmm, I don't see why not.

-Sir, I'm senior to Bowers.

-Pity.

-Sit down, Bowers.

Want to be first to reach the pole - out for a bit of white ribbon, eh?

No, sir. I know it sounds stupid to want adventure.

What do you mean?

Well, sir, get some extra knowledge

of the stars and land and weather and...

-And?

-Other men's jobs.

Well, Bowers, to date, we've had 6,042 applications.

I'm afraid we can't take anybody else.

TELEPHONE RINGS

Hello? Good morning, Sir Clemence.

What? The grant is through.

How much?

I see. Yes, yes, of course.

Thanks for letting us know at once. Yes. Goodbye, sir.

-How much?

-£20,000.

-A lot short of what we wanted.

-But it makes it possible.

-We shall have to cut down a bit.

-How about my side?

It'll still be the greatest science expedition to leave England.

-How will we do it?

-One ship instead of two. There she is.

We can go, Bill. We're going.

What? I was going to kick you out.

I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll take you. How's that?

Thank you, sir.

-Oh, Bowers.

-Yes, sir?

-Many happy returns.

-Thank you very much, sir.

'The first leg of our journey, halfway round the world.'

BAND PLAYS JAUNTY MUSIC

Just a minute, son. Just a minute.

-Excuse me, sir.

-Oi, you, stop it.

SPEAKS RUSSIAN

Where is Captain Scott, please?

SPEAKS RUSSIAN WHISTLE

Sonny, you come to Uncle. He's Russian, he don't understand.

This is for the owner. Up there. Not on the bridge, on the poop deck.

-Telegram, Captain Scott.

-Oh? Oh, thank you.

-Thanks.

-Any message for Peter?

Tell him I'll bring him a penguin.

SHIP'S HORN SOUNDS

Excuse me.

Goodbye.

God bless and keep you, my dearest.

Until...

All visitors ashore. Come along.

Think of me when you make those footmarks.

Every step of the way.

HORN SOUNDS

BELLS

Up gangway!

Hold on!

LAUGHTER

All right, carry on.

BAND PLAY: Will Ye No Come Back Again?

Thousands of miles from a bookie and I get red-hot tip for the National!

-Is that a race?

-A race?

-Hook, line and sinker.

The Grouse Commission are thinking of us. They don't say what.

Here's one, sir. "Love to Hampstead and kind regards to the rest of you, Helen Field."

I've got another one here.

ENGINES THROB

"Am going South. Amundsen."

But I thought it was understood.

-Everyone did.

-I can't believe it.

Perfectly true, read it yourself.

-From Madeira - so he's started.

-Not very sporting, I must say.

ALL TALK AT ONCE

He changed his mind!

Anyone's allowed to change his mind.

He was going North, now he's going South, that's all.

-It means a lot to you, doesn't it?

-You know damn well it does.

The Antarctic's enough to be up against without him butting in.

We're not rigged for racing.

Quite, Con. Quite. What would you do with all our scientists?

We'd be falling over each other.

You're right, Bill. You're right.

This is a scientific expedition.

I'm not going to be stampeded and I'm not going to take any risks. In fact, I'm not going to race.

Wonder what route he's taking.

'Wonderful to be free from problems, so difficult for me to handle.

'Whatever lies ahead, I'm now on my own ground.'

There, sir. The Great Ice Barrier.

400 miles long and 100 foot high.

'This is the best place.

'A sloping shore and a good stretch of bay ice.'

Steady - keep her straight on the lines.

Mush! Mush!

'With ponies, sledges, dogs and men, we've transported excellently.

'Bowers proved a perfect treasure.'

'There's not a case he doesn't know, or a single article he cannot find.

'So we are landed and the hut is up eight days after our arrival.

'A very good record.'

-Sir?

-What is it, McKenzie?

We wondered if you'd take puss along. Show up well against the snow

-Hear, hear, sir.

-It's very good of you fellers to suggest it...

but I can't take the luck from the ship.

-Great minds think alike, eh?

-Yes, sir.

Goodbye, Pennell. Best of luck.

-And to you, sir.

-See you in about...a year's time!

Yes, sir.

'The ship will drop Campbell's party further up the coast.

'What news shall we have for her when she returns next summer?'

'There is much for us all to do while the daylight lasts.

'When the sun does go, we shan't see it for half a year.'

Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!

Hello!

Hi, don't go away. Come back, there's nothing to worry about.

Well, winter's almost on us.

We're sitting tight for six months. So I'll go over what's ahead when the sun comes back.

This chart makes things easy to understand.

-Can you see all right at the back?

-Yes, sir.

-We're here, just above the sea ice.

First stage is the Great Ice Barrier.

About 400 miles to cross. Then come mountains, 9,000 feet high.

We get up the Beardmore Glacier, over 100 miles of it.

Lastly, the plateau. Another 350 miles along that to the pole.

Now, about ways and means.

The secret of travel in the Antarctic is food and fuel.

Hot food takes one further than cold. There's no living off the land.

Every ounce will be carried and depoted to supply us on the way home.

Give me a hand with the other one, Bill, will you?

You see these depots marked here? Up to the last, One Ton.

We've put them down this summer, to save weight next summer.

Beyond, on the outward journey, Southern Party will put down more depots, every so often.

The resources of the entire party will be devoted to getting four men into a position...

from which they can make their final bid for the pole.

Outward - tractors, ponies and dogs will haul as much as they can, as far as they can.

From then on, with no machines or animals, it's up to us.

From the glacier to the pole and all the way back, man-hauling.

Now, the time margin is very small.

As ponies can't stand the lowest temperatures, we'll have to start later.

We must move faster than Shackleton to stand any chance of getting back.

Getting back before the darkness and winter blizzards set in again.

Is that all clear? Any questions?

-I know one I'd like to ask him.

-Which four, eh?

SHIP'S HORN SOUNDS

The ship! She's back!

-What's up, Pennell?

-Came across Amundsen, sir!

-Where?

-Bay of Whales.

400 miles away. That's next door out here.

How many men's he got with him?

Only 19. More than 100 dogs. Never seen so many dogs.

He's got some cheek. We found this.

A million miles to choose from and he has to pick a bit of ours.

The Antarctic's big enough.

Thanks for the news. You better get out again before the sea freezes.

I'll be glad when we've done the pole and can get down to some real work. Won't you, Bill?

WIND WHISTLES

TAPPING ON TYPEWRITER

Shut that door!

PONIES WHINNY

DOGS YELP

Giving tongue, aren't they?

Well, good night, all.

-Good night, Pongo.

-Brrr!

-Goodnight, Uncle Bill.

-Goodnight, Atch.

GRAMOPHONE PLAYS BALLAD

-Good night, sir.

-Good night, Lashly.

WIND HOWLS

LAUGHTER

Gentlemen, one more toast. Sweethearts and wives.

-ALL:

-Sweethearts and wives.

Here's to myself and another And may that other be she.

Who drinks to herself and another And may that other be me.

-Jolly good.

-I'll drink to that.

"Other be I", surely.

Gentlemen, the famous Russian dancers - Dmitri and Oatesikowsky!

PIANOLA

LAUGHTER AND CHEERING

Very good, Dmitri.

Gentlemen, Mr Ponting will recite.

All right. Give us the doings, someone.

"The Sleeping Bag", a poem.

On the outside grows the fur side On the inside grows the skin side

So the first side is the outside And the skin side is the inside

One side likes the skin side inside And the fur side on the outside

Others like the skin side outside And the fur side on the inside

If you turn the skin side outside Thinking you'll side with that side

Then the soft side, fur side's inside

Which some argue is the wrong side

If you turn the fur side outside As you say, it grows on that side

Then your outside's next to skin side

Which for comfort's not the right side

The skin side is the cold side and your outside's not your warm side

And two cold sides side-by-side are not right side, one side decides!

You decide to side with that side, turn the top side fur side inside

Then the cold side, hard side skin side

Beyond all question, inside out!

LAUGHTER

ALL: Well done, that man! Well done, that man!

Well done, Bowers.

# When the snow lay round about

# Deep and crisp and even

# Brightly shone the moon that night

# Though the frost was cruel

# When a poor man came in sight

# Gathering winter fuel. #

Christopher, you're a toad.

You're in good form, Soldier, how about these fellers?

Not too dusty, considering.

Will they get us across the barrier in spring?

Can't say yet.

One or two I'm a bit worried about.

Nobby's all right.

So's James Pig.

Gee-hew, I'm not so sure.

This feller Amundsen, can he do it, do you think, just with dogs?

I can't say. Can't say.

Norwegians are better with dogs than us and our using these chaps means making a later start.

His base is 80 miles nearer the pole but he's crossing unknown country.

It all depends on whether he finds another way up to the plateau.

Just a matter of luck.

But they're tough people, no doubt about it.

'It's glorious to stand in brilliant sunshine again.

'It's in the lap of the gods. I can think of nothing left undone to deserve success.'

-Come along, Crean!

-Just a minute, sir.

Hurry up, Pongo.

-Hurry up, Teddy.

-Aye, aye, sir.

Right, Lashly, let's have another go.

Right-ho, Teddy. Good luck!

ENGINES SPLUTTER AND BACKFIRE

Come on, the Baltic Fleet!

'The slowest ponies first - with Atkinson, Wright and Keohane.'

Birdy!

'Bowers, Crean, Cherry-Garrard.

'Evans with Smasher.

'Evans is a tower of strength, sound and as hard as ever.

'Wilson with Nobby.

'Oates with Christopher - biggest handful of the lot.

'And myself with Snibbets.

'16 men, all told.

'Four days out, all ponies going well.'

Mush! Mush!

Mush! Mush!

Steady!

DOGS HOWL

'Antarctic air sharpens appetites.

'We're always ready for our pemmican, followed by tea or cocoa.'

Here you are, Studdy, Hampstead.

Just a heap of metal in the snow.

There's still the other one.

I hope so, Bill. I certainly hope so.

MACHINERY CLANKS

I'm afraid that's it, sir.

We'll have to man-haul till the others catch us up.

'Both motors have fallen out.

'Now all depends on the ponies.'

Whoa, back!

Now, Christopher! Whoa back!

LAUGHTER

'We're marching by midnight sun,

'so the ponies rest at the warmest time of the day.'

WIND WHISTLES

Sir, I've been totting up on the hay we have aboard.

Is none of them ponies coming back?

'Fraid not, Crean.

PONIES WHINNY

Soon meat - much meat, fresh meat.

'More than halfway to the glacier...

'but it's still rather touch-and-go with the ponies.'

Here it is! Hey, Teddy!

-Sir!

-150 miles since the motors let you down. Well done.

Shall we get them to the glacier?

Gee-hew's about done, I'm afraid. Still, he's paid his way.

It's strange, but when I write to Oriana, I can see so clearly the place the letter's going to.

-But her face is always misty.

-Yes. Yes, I know what you mean.

When I try and see Kathleen, there's always a feature I can't get.

Very odd. I feel the same about my horse.

I can see the paddock all right, but I can't get the chap's muzzle.

This is as far as we go together. Thank you, Day, Hooper.

-Thank you, sir.

-Goodbye. Good luck.

-Thank you, sir.

-Don't forget the letters, Day.

-No, sir.

Bye, you fellers!

Goodbye!

Gee-hew.

Atch!

GUNSHOT

'The blizzard lost us five days. We're well behind Shackleton's time.

'We must get the ponies on a little further.'

We can't be far from the glacier now. Wherever we are, this is the finish.

Crean.

Birdy!

GUNSHOT

GUNSHOT

GUNSHOT

GUNSHOT

DOGS HOWL

Well, Christopher, old man.

GUNSHOT

Look!

Well, they did it. I congratulate you, Titus.

And I thank you, Titus.

The glacier tomorrow, Bill.

-Dmitri!

-Sir?

-Here's the mail. Good luck.

Bye, sir.

-Goodbye, Dmitri.

-Goodbye, Dmitri.

-Good luck, boy.

Do svidanya!

Mush! Mush!

-Goodbye, Meares. Have a good run.

-Thank you, sir. Best of luck to you.

-Thanks.

-Mush! Mush!

'12 men with three sledges, man-hauling.'

Brandy, Bill? What's this for?

That, my dear Titus, is purely medicinal. Kindly hand it to me.

'We've climbed 4,000 feet.

'We've been toiling for five days but are barely halfway up.

'Surely we were right not to bring the dogs on?'

-That way!

-Aye, aye, sir.

-Ready? Heave.

Ready? Heave.

Birdy, better leave a flag here. Seems to be a good way up.

Aye, aye, sir.

That's what Shackleton called "Buckley Island".

-Top of the glacier, sir?

-That's right. Our last big climb.

We'll be at the top for Christmas dinner.

That's right, Lashly, merry Christmas is the word.

Take the strain, Crean. Toss him a line, Birdy.

-You all right, Lashly?

-Yes, sir. Sure to be.

It's my birthday, too.

-Many happy returns, Lashly.

-Right, Birdy. Right, Crean.

Hold in. Heave.

Caramel?

-Thank you, sir.

-Thank you, Bill.

-Atch?

-Thank you, Uncle Bill.

-Soldier, you're a marvel.

-Christmas comes but once a year.

-Christmas comes and Atch goes, eh?

-Yes, worse luck.

Mmm. Good.

Pemmican and pony, how do you do it, Titus?

-Simple. You've had short rations all week.

-Oh-ho!

-Well, it was worth it.

-Thank you, sir.

Atch?

What do you have to have to be given brandy?

Leprosy. Plague.

Or just an ordinary fit.

Fit, eh?

-Er, more, sir?

-Oh, sorry, sir.

-That's all right, Atch. It's crowded.

-We ought to eat by numbers.

-Don't put too much faith in numbers.

Carry on, Evans. Story coming.

Hardly a story exactly, sir.

But I remember, at Whale Island, we had a PO gunnery instructor, on a gun with a new-fangled action.

You had to push a button near the breech with your left thumb...

then whang in the block.

Some got the movements too close together.

In goes the block and off comes the top of their thumb.

This PO is tired of seeing people with no tops of their thumb and he says,

"Listen, flat-footed soldiers, let's have no more of this."

"I'll demonstrate to you slowly, by numbers."

"One, open the breech. Two, press the button with the left thumb...

"..and, three, send home the block with the right hand."

"And that's how you lose the top of your bloody thumb!"

-Whoa! Whoa!

-Keep back, keep back!

-Eeuurggh! Brandy, brandy! Brandy!

That's out of date, Titus. This is the modern treatment!

No! No!

No! Stop it!

'9,000 feet up, the barrier and the glacier behind us.

'It should be level going now. All the way to our goal.'

Bye, Atch. Look out for us about the beginning of March.

With any luck, we'll be back before the ship has to go.

I hope I haven't disappointed you?

No. It was a sheer toss-up whether you or Titus went on from here.

Really? Who's going on the last lap?

Don't suppose it's settled. Four of us. We're all hoping.

Ready? Heave.

-Bye, boys!

-Goodbye!

-Goodbye, fellers!

'Eight men with two sledges. Man-hauling.'

-This wind!

-Help us on the way back, though.

Hardest decision of the lot, Bill.

And the one where you can't help me.

Can we depot our skis here? Help lighten our sledge.

Yes, all right. Leave your lot here. Return party can pick 'em up.

Whoever they are.

We'll make lunch camp here. Let you get ahead a bit.

'Is my team the best? Is it?

'How will we know the toughest? Bill and I. Yes, that's two.

'Taff Evans, of course. Soldier. Soldier, too.

'All right. Our four. Our four? What about Teddy's?'

Halt.

Carry on, Bill.

Ready? Heave.

'The best four men. Who are the best four?

'Teddy? Birdy? Lashly? Crean?'

Last letters home go tomorrow.

You're too big, both of you.

What the captain wants is a middler.

-About five foot eight.

-What might you be?

-Five foot eight.

Ooh.

Here comes the Captain.

Well done, lads. First-class job.

Lashly, Crean. It's only fair to tell you, you're not coming with us tomorrow.

I'm very sorry indeed. You were splendid. I won't forget it.

-Thank you, sir.

-Thank you, sir.

And me, sir?

You'll be coming on.

Thank you, sir.

Good for you, Taff.

You're a lucky devil, Taff. You always were.

Teddy.

Yes, sir?

About tomorrow.

I've given a lot of thought to the matter and I've decided that my four should go on.

I see, sir.

There's one other thing.

I want to take Bowers, if you can spare him.

-Five, sir?

-Yes.

Right.

And Teddy...

Sorry.

Thank you, sir.

I'm taking five.

-Five?

-You, me, Bowers, Oates, and Taff Evans as the strongest.

A scientist, sailors and a soldier. What better companions could a man have?

'Dear Kathleen, a last note from a hopeful position.

'I think it's going to be all right.'

-Goodbye, Lashly, best of luck.

-Thank you.

-Teddy, we couldn't have done this without you.

-Thank you, sir. And good luck.

See you sometime in March, eh?

Ready? Heave!

-Let's give 'em a cheer, lads!

-ALL:

-Hooray! Hooray!

'Five men with one sledge - man-hauling.

'This surface is horrible, crystals like sand.'

'Bowers, on foot, has the hardest time of it, but

'he's an undefeated little sportsman.'

-Not ready yet, Titus?

-No, not yet.

-Latitude 88, 25, sir.

-Farthest south, eh?

-Good-oh!

Beyond Shackleton at last.

That's great, sir.

Something the matter with your hand, Evans?

Only a cut, sir. It's nothing.

I heals easy. At least, I do at home.

'Cooking for five takes much longer than cooking for four.

'It's an item I'd not considered when reorganising.'

'Can we keep up these marches?

'It's a critical time, but we ought to do the trick.'

WIND HOWLS

-How far now, sir?

-About 27 miles. Two good marches.

-I'm sorry, but my sleeping bag is not on the sledge.

-Halt.

It can't have fallen further back than our last halt. May I go, sir?

I'm coming with you.

-I can't trust meself to speak, sir.

-Well, don't then, Taff.

'We only had to go back a couple of miles, but it cost us two whole hours.'

Can't be more than five miles now, sir.

Sir!

There.

Amundsen.

Look.

Well, I suppose it was meant to be.

They've left their names, five of them.

And there's a letter for the King of Norway, asking Captain Scott to kindly deliver it.

He's forgotten to stamp it.

Birdy, better check the position.

'The pole, but under very different circumstances from those expected.

'It's a bitter disappointment and I'm very sorry for my loyal companions.'

Smile, please.

'The wind is blowing hard and there's that curious damp feeling in

'the air which chills one to the bone.

'Great God, this is an awful place.'

'January 18th, all the daydreams must go.

'Now for the run home and a desperate struggle.

'I wonder if we can do it.'

-Teddy asked me to give you this at the pole.

-Well done, that man.

Sorry you chaps don't like chocolate.

-Soldier?

-Thanks.

-Bill?

-Thank you.

-Birdy?

-Thank you, sir.

-Evans?

-Thank you, sir.

-That hand still bothering you?

-Hardly at all now, sir.

Well, lads, only 900 miles to go.

Ready? Heave.

Ready? Heave.

This is better, eh?

Birdy, your skis must be around here. Keep an eye open for them.

Aye, aye, sir.

'The wind is playing strange tricks.

'Instead of blowing steadily northwards...

'it keeps dropping and leaving us the full weight of the sledge.'

Land ho!

'I don't like the easy way Oates and Evans get frostbitten.'

Sir, you know where Teddy turned back?

-What about it?

-According to this note, we've done the same distance half a day better.

Hear that, Soldier?

-We're half a day better than Teddy.

-Good-oh.

-A day's march nearer home, Birdy.

-A day's march nearer steaks.

Large, thick, juicy, sizzly ones.

Oh, don't.

With mushrooms. And beer.

And beer?

Beer, of course. Gallons of it.

I had a nightmare the other night.

I dreamt that Simpson's had been burnt down.

Hello, Bill, what've you got this time?

Quite an interesting day.

This hooch smells good. Yours, Con?

Birdy reckons we've done half a day's better time than Teddy.

Good. Good.

-What are these, Bill?

-Sea plants and tree fossils.

Good heavens. This must have been quite a warm spot once.

And look at this.

Coal, by Jove.

NORTHERN ACCENT: "What's the prospect of trade between this city and the Antarctic?"

-Coal, Evans, catch.

-Oooh!

What's the matter, man?

Nothing, sir. Quite all right.

Only a bit awkward, that's all.

'I am glad to have done with the plateau.

'Another week of those conditions might have had a bad effect on Evans.'

See your flag anywhere, Birdy?

No sign of it, sir.

We'll try a bit back and to the right.

Evans, off with your harness.

Take the after end of the sledge.

-Understand?

-Aye aye, sir.

'Evans is a good deal run down.

'Wilson, Bowers and I are as fit as is possible, but Oates feels the cold and fatigue more.'

Look out! Steady!

There it is, sir! There's the flag.

Shadow.

'Evans keeps saying that he's quite well.

'How can a man be quite well with hands like that?'

Halt!

Can't be far now.

-Birdy, try up that hill and see if you can see the cairn.

-Right, sir.

-What's wrong, Evans?

-It's loose, sir, come loose. Have it right in a moment.

Hold on, I'll do it.

You get your harness off.

Only me old hand, sir.

Makes me a bit slow.

Can't see the cairn, but I can see the barrier!

How's that? Try and move your foot.

-Sure you can manage?

-I'll be fine, sir.

That's a man, Taff. Take your time.

We'll be camping soon.

Ready? Heave.

Halt.

What is it, Taff?

I'm all right, sir. Quite well.

Taff?

'It is a terrible thing to lose a companion in this way, after all the miles we've sledged together.'

-Plateau done, glacier done.

-400 miles and then we're done.

We've got to do more miles a day.

We ought to find it warmer down here.

Sir.

60 degrees of frost. It can't last.

'Only five miles again yesterday. This will never do.'

Ready?

There in the end. Always be there in the end.

Right, Soldier?

Ready, sir.

Heave!

'There's no doubt that we're not going strong...

'and, I'm afraid, Soldier's foot is bad.'

When I get home, never going to walk another step. Ride wherever I go.

Even in London?

London. Know the Empire Promenade, Birdy?

Funny thing. I've never been.

First night home, I'll be there.

You must take me with you. You'll have to leave your horse outside.

I ought to tell you that we haven't too much fuel in hand.

If we're still short at Mount Hooper, we'll try going on cold meals.

We may have no choice.

Funny. I used to have what they call "a good leg for a boot."

You wouldn't think it now, would you, Bill?

Bill, what chance have I got?

A good one, Titus.

-How far is it to Mount Hooper now?

-Eight and a half miles.

We'll do it in no time, Soldier.

Purely medicinal.

'What shall we find at Mount Hooper depot?

'If oil is short again...'

There she is.

See, old chap. Managed it all right.

-Wasn't so bad.

-Get the spades, Birdy.

Here it is.

It's not full.

-Seal's not broken.

-Odd things happen out here.

-It must be evaporation.

-Yes, but...

Come on, chaps. No good arguing the whys and wherefores. Up tent.

'Among ourselves, we are cheerful...

'but what each feels in his heart, I can only guess.'

Letting up a little, I think.

WIND HOWLS

I hope I don't wake tomorrow, Bill.

I'm just going outside.

I may be away some time.

'A brave man and a gallant gentleman.'

'This intense cold convinces me that the season has broken, far earlier than I expected.'

We'll be all right at One Ton. It's full of stuff.

WIND HOWLS

Thought for a moment it might be old Titus. Stupid of me. Sorry.

Only 11 miles now, Bill.

Two good marches. One if the snow holds off.

'Captain Scott is now lying in this tent with a frozen foot.'

'I'm afraid he will never walk again.'

'If the wind drops, Birdy and I will try and reach the next depot and return.'

'We have come together 1,800 miles..

and are now only 11 miles from stores in plenty.'

'Only 11 miles.'

WIND HOWLS

WIND WHISTLES

11 miles.

11 miles.

'Think of me when you make those footmarks.'

'Every step of the way.'

'My own dearest mother, I should so like to have come through...

'for your dear sake.'

'It is splendid to pass, however, with such companions as I have.'

'As all five of us have mothers and wives, you will not be alone.'

'There will be no shame and you will know I have struggled to the end.'

'Your ever-loving son, to the end of this life and the next...

'..when God shall wipe away all tears.'

'God knows I'm sorry to be the cause of sorrow to anyone in the world.

'But everyone must die.'

'All the things I had hoped to do with you after the expedition...

'are as nothing now.'

'My only regret is leaving you to struggle though your life alone.

'All is for the best to those who love God.

'And, oh, my Orrie, we have both loved him with all our lives.

'All is well.'

'For my own sake, I do not regret this journey.

'We took risks. We knew we took them.

'Things have come out against us and, therefore, we have no cause for complaint.

'Had we lived, I should have had a tale to tell, of the hardihood, endurance...

'and courage of my companions which would have stirred the heart of every Englishman.

'Seems a pity, but I don't think I can write more.'

'These rough notes and our dead bodies must tell the tale.

'For God's sake, look after our people.'

WIND HOWLS

SHOUTING

Halt!