BROADCASTS.com

Published: March 9, 2023, 4:20 p.m.

The crew of a U-Boat in the Great War find
some danger runs very very deep

CAST

Cap. Karl Heinrich - Rick Lewis
Lt. Keinze - J. Hoverson
Crew:\xa0 Shawn Connor & Bryan Hendricksen

Music by:\xa0 Kevin MacLeod (Incompetech.com)

Recorded with the assistance of Ryan Hirst of Neohoodoo Studio
Editing and Sound: \xa0 Julie Hoverson
Cover Art - Brett Coulstock

"What kind of a place is it?
Why it's a U-boat of the Kaiserliche Marine - can't you tell?"
______________________________________________________________

THE TEMPLE

Cast:

Lieutenant Commander Karl HEINRICH, Graf von Altberg-Ehrenstein, Lieutenant-Commander in the Imperial German Navy, Prussian (mid 30s?)

Lieutenant Jurgen KIENZE, second in command, "womanish Rhinelander" (30)

Boatswain MULLER, elderly "superstitious Alsatian swine"

SCHMIDT [mid 20s - goes mad]

ZIMMER [mid 20s - leads delegation to get rid of idol]

BOHIN [mid 20s - goes mad]

RAABE [early 20s - engineer]

SCHNEIDER [early 20s - engineer]

OLIVIA \xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0Did you have any trouble finding it?\xa0 What do you mean, what kind of a place is it?\xa0 Why, it's a U-Boat of the Kaiserlich Marine, can't you tell?\xa0 (That's World War I, for all you younger folks...)

[My apologies for any mischaracterization of Germans - it's all from Lovecraft's original text.\xa0 His complete lack of knowledge of U-Boats also - But I had to leave in the portholes to support the story.\xa0 Any mistakes in military etiquette of the time are probably mine, though.]

MUSIC

SCENE 1.

AMBIANCE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 U-BOAT ENGINE

SEAMEN\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [murmuring voices]

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 HATCH OPENS, CLANGING FOOTSTEPS

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Achtung!\xa0 Kapitanleutnant Heinrich on deck!

SEAMEN\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [instantly silent]

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [commanding, slightly angry sounding]\xa0 Ser gut!\xa0 I have been reviewing the log regarding the sinking of the British freighter Victory, and I must say [getting ominous] that you are - most definitely - [spitting out the words] the single, absolute, most efficient U-boat crew in the Atlantic.\xa0 [laughs]\xa0 At ease, at ease.

SEAMEN\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [Excited chatter]

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 I myself cannot wait to view the film we took.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Ya, ya.\xa0 [aside] The camera was off before we sank the lifeboats?

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 As always, Kaleu.

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 HEARTY CLAP ON SHOULDER

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Most excellent.\xa0 Come Kienze, I have a bottle of some fine Schnapps.\xa0 You must help me celebrate.

MUSIC\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 in then under

\xa0

SCENE 2.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [on a recording, tired sounding] On August\xa020, 1917, I, Karl Heinrich, Graf von Altberg-Ehrenstein, Lieutenant-Commander in the Imperial German Navy and in charge of the submarine U-29, deposit this bottle and record in the Atlantic Ocean at a point to me unknown but probably about North Latitude 20 degrees, West Longitude 35 degrees, where my ship lies disabled on the ocean floor.

MUSIC \xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0HAS FADED OUT

\xa0

SCENE 3.

SFX\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 SUBMARINE SURFACES

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 HATCH OPENS

AMBIANCE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 CALM SEA, OCCASIONAL BIRDS

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 FOOTSTEPS ON METAL

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [grunt - stretching noise]\xa0 There is nothing like the first step out on deck after a victory, eh?.

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 A "Victory"?\xa0 [chuckles]\xa0 Ya.\xa0 Very amusing.

MULLER\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [off]\xa0 Kaleu, sir!\xa0 Come!

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 FOOTSTEPS ON METAL

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 What could be so--\xa0 Oh!

MULLER\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 He must be from the Victory, sir!

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Alive?

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Don't be foolish, Kienze, we were far too long submerged.\xa0 He would have had a better chance if he let go and braved the waves.\xa0 [shouting off]\xa0 Remove the corpse!

[NOTE - red text will come back at the end in echoes]

ZIMMER\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Sir!\xa0 His hands are in a death grip!\xa0

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Fingers break more easily than railings.

ZIMMER\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [hesitantly] uh... Aye sir!

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 POUNDING NOISES

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [sanctimonious] One more victim of the unjust war of aggression the English schweinhunds are waging upon the Reich.

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Truly, he is our victim.\xa0 Nothing more.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 You do not see the whole picture - [amused] Just like a soft-headed Rhinelander.\xa0 If you were a solid Prussian like myself--

SEAMEN\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [OFF - NOISE OF AN ALTERCATION]

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Vas is los?\xa0 Go and see.

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 FOOTSTEPS ON METAL

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 What is this?\xa0 What is this? \xa0Achtung!

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 SCRAMBLE OF MEN GETTING TO THEIR FEET

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 What is so very exciting?

ZIMMER\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Sir!\xa0 Schmidt took something from the pocket of the ... [gulp] d-dead one.

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Schmidt?\xa0 Would you show this to me?

SCHMIDT\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 It is nothing, Leutnant.\xa0

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 I will judge that.\xa0 Give it me.\xa0 [beat]\xa0 Well, this is... certainly something.\xa0 I am confiscating it - now put that over the side.

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 FOOTSTEPS ON METAL

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 So?

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 A bauble.\xa0 Ivory, I think - looks like a classical bust, ya?

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Not a senator, though - this one is much too young and handsome.

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Possibly a kaiser?\xa0

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Or a god.

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [reluctantly] It is yours, if you want it.\xa0 It might be valuable--

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 No, no. I have not the sentimental--

MULLER\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [off, screams]

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 FOOTSTEPS RUNNING ON METAL

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [puffing only slightly] What is it?

SCHMIDT\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [shivering with fear] Muller, sir - it is Muller!

KIENZE \xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0Muller's unconscious.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Wake him.

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 SLAPS

MULLER\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [wails]

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 ANOTHER SLAP

MULLER\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [gasps, is silent]

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Get him up here.\xa0 [command] Stations!

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 RUNNING FEET CLANG AWAY

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Are you going to talk sense now?

MULLER\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [hollow]\xa0 His eyes!\xa0 His eyes!

KIENZE \xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0Whose eyes?\xa0 Speak sense!

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 SLAP

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Enough!\xa0 Muller.\xa0 Tell me what is wrong.

MULLER\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Ya, mein kapitan!\xa0 [trying to calm down]\xa0 The body - the eyes were closed.\xa0 But when they rolled it over the side, they opened - and they were mocking us!

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [casual] Superstitious rubbish.\xa0 Muller, you have seen corpses before now, and--

MULLER\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Sir!\xa0 But that is not all!\xa0 He--\xa0 [sullen, inward] You will not believe me!

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 You are under orders to speak.

MULLER\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 I-- watched as the body hit the water.\xa0 I saw it sink beneath the waves, and--

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 And--?

MULLER\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [almost a whisper] It drew its limbs in, and swam away.

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 You filthy lying--! [grunt as about to slap him again]

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Nein, Leutnant.\xa0 [calming] \xa0Muller.\xa0 You know this cannot be true, don't you?

MULLER\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 But I saw--

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Water is deceptive.\xa0 It is strange, ya, that the body simply sank - but that is probably due to its waterlogged condition after being held under on our railing for hours.\xa0 Beyond that--?\xa0 It is all a trick of the light.

MULLER\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Truly?

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 I will hear no more about it, ya?

M\xdcLLER\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 But you should keep no part of him on the ship - it is bad luck.\xa0 The statue--

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Is nothing.\xa0 It is a trinket. \xa0You go about your duties now, Boatswain.

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 RELUCTANT FOOTSTEPS AWAY

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Pfaugh.\xa0 [muttered growl] Superstitious Alsatian swine!\xa0 Why am I surrounded by inferior--

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Kaleu?\xa0 Do you wish that I throw the bust overb--

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Nonsense.\xa0 We do not give in to fear.\xa0 We are men of the twentieth century - and, more importantly, officers in the Kaiserliche Marine.\xa0

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 I could... tell them I threw it--

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Do not show weakness.\xa0 It makes you sound unreliable.

MUSIC\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 in and under

\xa0

SCENE 4.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [canned] The next day a very troublesome situation was created by the indisposition of some of the crew. \xa0Evidently suffering from the nervous strain of our long voyage, they had had bad dreams. \xa0When weather turned choppy, we descended to a depth where the sea was comparatively calm, despite a somewhat puzzling southward current which we could not identify from our oceanographic charts.

MUSIC \xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0HAS FADED OUT

\xa0

SCENE 5.

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 HATCH CLOSES

SFX\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 SUBMARINE SUBMERGES

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 FOOTSTEPS ON METAL

RAABE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Under-Engineer Raabe, here to make a report, sir!

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Where is Schneider?\xa0

RAABE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 He is ... unwell, sir.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 What is wrong?

RAABE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 He... did not sleep well, sir.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 What?

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 It is the same with many of the men, Kaleu.\xa0 They are feverish and say they have had bad dreams.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 If they are shirking, I will--

RAABE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Sir, no!\xa0 Schmidt is burning up with fever, screaming all night in his berth.\xa0

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [sympathetic] Then you did not sleep well either, I expect?

RAABE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Nein, Kaleu.

HEINRICH\xa0 \xa0\xa0\xa0[very pleased] Yet you are here, like a good sailor.\xa0 Good man--

MULLER\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [muttered off] It is the idol.\xa0 It is accursed.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 What?\xa0 Muller?

MULLER\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [panicky] Nothing.\xa0 I said nothing sir.

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 He said--

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [grim] I heard what he said.\xa0 Muller, I will have none of this wild peasant superstition on my ship!

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [amused undertone] You forget, mein noble Kapitan, I am a commoner as well.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [dismissively] Burgher stock.\xa0 [teasing slightly]\xa0 And they made you an officer - you must have some good qualities.

MULLER\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 What does it matter?\xa0 We are all doomed!

RAABE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [dismissive] Doomed?\xa0 Because some men are sick?

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Sehr gut.\xa0 We must remain rational at times like these.\xa0 Retain our iron German will.\xa0 [sharp] Kienze?

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [snapping to] Ya mein kapitanleutnant?

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Remove Boatswain Muller.\xa0

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Ya, Kaleu.\xa0

MUSIC\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 in and under

\xa0

SCENE 6.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [canned]\xa0 The moans of the sick men were decidedly annoying; but since they did not appear to demoralize the rest of the crew, we did not resort to ... extreme measures. It was our plan to remain where we were and intercept the liner Dacia, mentioned in information from agents in New York.

MUSIC \xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0HAS FADED OUT

\xa0

SCENE 7.

SOUND \xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0INSIDE THE BOAT.\xa0 MANY FEET RUNNING ACROSS METAL, FEET STOP ABRUPTLY

CROWD\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [muttering, backs up Zimmer throughout the scene.]

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Und vas is los?

ZIMMER\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [clears throat]\xa0 Kapitanleutnant, we must request - most strenuously - that you--

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Is this about that knickknack?\xa0 What sort of Gypsies are you, to believe such phantasms?\xa0

ZIMMER\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 But what could it hurt, sir?\xa0 It is surely not so valuable that it is worth risking--

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 What?\xa0 Risking what?\xa0 The only thing we are risking here is our mission.

BOHIN\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 We will all die!

ZIMMER\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Shh.\xa0 [trying to sound reasonable] Morale, mein kapitan.\xa0 It is such a small thing, yet would mean so much to the men.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [low, despising] I see no men here.

MUSIC\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 IN AND UNDER

\xa0

SCENE 8.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [canned] Everyone seemed inclined to be silent now, as though holding a secret fear. Many were ill, but none made a disturbance. Lieutenant Kienze chafed under the strain, and was annoyed by the merest trifle - such as the schools of dolphins which passed the U-29 in increasing numbers, and the growing intensity of that southward current which was not on our chart.

MUSIC \xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0HAS FADED OUT

\xa0

SCENE 9.

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 HATCH CLANGS SHUT

AMBIANCE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 UP TOPSIDE

SCHMIDT\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 That makes seven of us.\xa0 We can surely--

ZIMMER\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Muller is still in irons.\xa0 He can be no help.

BOHIN\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Muller saw them!

ZIMMER\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Shh.\xa0 None of the crazy talk, Bohin.\xa0 We cannot let ourselves--

BOHIN\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [too intense to be sane] I have not seen them, but they call to me!\xa0 Their voices are like the waves - but waves that make words!

SCHMIDT\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [sigh] So there are six of us.

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 HATCH OPENS, A COUPLE OF FOOTSTEPS

RAABE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 What is going on here?

SCHMIDT\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [snort] We are planning a party.\xa0 What does it look like?

RAABE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 What is happening that makes everyone so--

BOHIN\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 There!\xa0 In the WATER!\xa0 They have come!

RAABE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 --Crazy?

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 RUNNING FOOTSTEPS, A STRUGGLE, A BODY SLAMMED AGAINST METAL.

MUSIC\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 IN AND UNDER

\xa0

SCENE 10.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [canned]\xa0 He was in a detestably childish state, and babbled of some illusion of dead bodies drifting past the portholes; bodies which he recognized, in spite of bloating, as having seen dying during some of our victorious German exploits. And he said that the young man we had found and tossed overboard was their leader. This was very gruesome and abnormal.

MUSIC\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 HAS FADED OUT

\xa0

SCENE 11.

RAABE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Seaman Bohin tried to leap off the deck.\xa0 We had to hold him down until the madness left him, sir.

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 All for such a small thing.

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 SMALL IVORY STATUE SET ON TABLE

RAABE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 That is what this is all about?

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Just that.

SOUND \xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0FOOTSTEPS, STATUE IS SNATCHED UP AND PUT AWAY IN A POCKET

ZIMMER\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Sir!\xa0 Leutnant Kienze?\xa0 Bohin is gone!\xa0 He is nowhere on the ship.\xa0

MUSIC\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 IN AND UNDER

\xa0

SCENE 12.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [canned]\xa0 It at length became apparent that we had missed the Dacia altogether. Such failures are not uncommon, and we were more pleased than disappointed, since our return to Wilhelmshaven was now in order.

MUSIC \xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0HAS FADED OUT

\xa0

SCENE 13.

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 MEASURED FOOTSTEPS

AMB\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 INSIDE

SEAMEN\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [Muffled, CHEERS!!!]

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [sigh]\xa0 This soft-headedness is not good.\xa0 Morale is the result of willpower, not coddling.

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Still, I too will be glad when this trip is over.\xa0 That southern current we have blundered into bothers me.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 It explains how we missed our target.\xa0 Not every inch of the ocean is charted properly.\xa0

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 But it is so strong - to be overlooked.

RAABE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [clears his throat]\xa0 Sir?

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Schneider still not feeling well?

RAABE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 He prefers to remain in the engine room, sir.\xa0 He does not like ... being near portholes.

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Portholes?

RAABE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 His dreams haunt him.\xa0 [hurriedly] But he is not impaired in his job.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [teasing] Well, certainly you did not come all this way to tell us Senior Engineer Schneider does not like portholes.\xa0 Out with it!

RAABE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Something fantastic has happened.\xa0 The boat - it is surrounded by -- dolphins.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Dolphins?\xa0 How many?

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 KIENZE'S FOOTSTEPS GO AWAY

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [off] Ya, come and look!\xa0 They are everywhere!

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Finally something the superstitious can interpret as a good sign, ya?

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [jubilant] Just as we decide to return to Schlicktown!\xa0 This should truly mollify them.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [dry] How fortunate.

MUSIC\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 IN AND UNDER

\xa0

SCENE 14.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [canned] At noon June 28 we turned northeastward, and despite some rather comical entanglements with the unusual masses of dolphins, were soon under way.

MUSIC \xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0HAS FADED OUT

\xa0

SCENE 15.

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 SNORING [HEINRICH]

SFX\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 EXPLOSION

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [wakes up] What?\xa0 What?

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 MANY RUNNING FEET, SOME BARE, ONE PAIR OF BOOTS STOMPS THROUGH CALMLY

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Report.\xa0 Someone report!

SCHMIDT\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 This is your fault, you swine!\xa0 You made us\u2011\u2011

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 SLAP, BODY HITS METAL WALL

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 SHUT UP.\xa0 Is there anyone who can talk sense?

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [breathless, and coughing]\xa0 They have the fire out.\xa0 The explosion was in the engine room.\xa0

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 What caused it?

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 They have found no cause as yet.\xa0 The damage is extensive.\xa0 All systems have not yet been tested, but it is certain we have no steering.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 No--?\xa0 What about the air compressors?

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 They appear undamaged.\xa0 But, mein freund--

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Ya?\xa0 What is it?

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Schneider and - and Raabe - they were killed instantly.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [long indrawn breath, then cold as he can be]\xa0 That is most unfortunate.

MUSIC\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 IN AND UNDER

\xa0

SCENE 16.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [canned] Our situation had suddenly become grave indeed; for though the chemical air regenerators were intact, and we could use the devices for raising and submerging the ship and opening the hatches as long as compressed air and storage batteries might hold out, we were powerless to propel or guide the submarine.

MUSIC \xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0HAS FADED OUT

\xa0

SCENE 17.

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 SNORING [KIENZE]

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 CURTAIN OPENS VERY STEALTHILY, HUSHED FOOTSTEPS, RUSTLING

KIENZE \xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0[snoring stops]

SCHMIDT\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [gasp]

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 SCUFFLE

SOUND \xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0COCK OF GUN

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 What is it you think you are doing?

SCHMIDT\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [nutso] He demands it!\xa0 He will not let me sleep until it is returned to him!

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [off] Was iss?

KIENZE \xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0A mutiny, kaleu.

MUSIC\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 VERY BRIEF

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [muttered] Can we do without Schmidt, short as we are of hands?

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Hah!\xa0 With no engines to maintain, I must always find make-work for the men.\xa0 They will go mad [bad choice of words] -- they are restless if left sitting on their hands.

MUSIC\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 IN AND UNDER

\xa0

SCENE 18.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [canned] German lives are precious, but the constant raving of Schmidt concerning a terrible curse was most subversive of discipline, so drastic steps were taken. The crew accepted the event in a sullen fashion.

MUSIC \xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0FADED OUT

\xa0

SCENE 19.

AMBIANCE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 INSIDE

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 HATCH OPENS

ZIMMER\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [jubilant, yelling down from above] A ship!\xa0 We are delivered!

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [composed]\xa0 Excellent.\xa0 You see, Kienze?\xa0 It is never so dark that there is no light.\xa0 Come along.

SOUND \xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0STEPS CLIMBING LADDER, THEN OUT ON DECK

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Give me the glasses.

ZIMMER \xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0But it is a ship, leutnant, isn't that enough?

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [suspicious]\xa0 Glasses, now!

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 A BEAT, THEN HEAVY ITEM PUT IN GLOVED HAND.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Vas ist?

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [disappointed and disgusted] Yankees.\xa0

ZIMMER\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 But surely surrender is better than death--

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [cold] Zimmer?

ZIMMER\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [braced for the worst] \xa0Ya, kapitanleutnant?

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [colder] Prepare for a dive.

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 GOING DOWN LADDER.

MUSIC\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 IN AND UNDER

\xa0

SCENE 20.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [canned] We did not descend far.\xa0 After several hours, we decided to return to the surface, however, the ship failed to respond to our direction in spite of all that the mechanics could do. Some of the men began to mutter again, but the sight of an automatic pistol calmed them.

MUSIC \xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0HAS FADED OUT

\xa0

SCENE 21.

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Kaleu, the men are very restless.\xa0 They fear the worst, being trapped and drifting.\xa0 They blame us for making a bad decision.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [offhand] It was the only decision to make.\xa0 None but a weakling would surrender to the Yankees.\xa0

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Any man may turn weak in such conditions--

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [self-satisfied] No Prussian. \xa0And if I must be the backbone so my crew can stand straight as men, so be it.\xa0

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 The men are restless.\xa0 Angry.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [dangerous] If they will not stand, then I will put them down and stamp their bodies into pulp fit only to paint the walls.

MUSIC\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 IN AND UNDER

\xa0

SCENE 22.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [canned] It was about 5 A.M., that the general mutiny broke loose. The six remaining pigs of seamen, suspecting that we were lost, suddenly burst into a mad fury, roared like the animals they were, and broke instruments and furniture indiscriminately. Leutnant Kienze seemed paralyzed and inefficient, as one might expect of a soft, womanish Rhinelander.

MUSIC\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 HAS FADED OUT

\xa0

SCENE 23.

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 FADING IN, SIX GUNSHOTS, ECHO FADES AWAY

HEINRICH \xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0[breathing hard]

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [gasping, almost hysterical]

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [deep breath] Get up.

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [gasps] Did you--?\xa0 Was that ... necessary?

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [scornful laugh] You saw them.\xa0 Now, stand.\xa0 We need to clean house.

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 What do you plan to do?

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 What else?\xa0 Put them out.\xa0 We can\u2019t keep them here to stink up the place.

SOUND \xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0SCUFFLING, THEN SHUFFLING FEET

KIENZE\xa0 \xa0\xa0\xa0We can use the top hatch--

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Ya, ya.\xa0 [going off] Make sure they are all dead, will you?\xa0

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [calling] Where are--?\xa0 This will be easier with two.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [turning back, briefly] So would killing them, but I had to handle that.\xa0 This is your part. \xa0[leaving again] Let me know when you need help getting them up into the hatch.

MUSIC\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 IN AND UNDER

\xa0

SCENE 24.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [canned] Our compasses, depth gauges, and other delicate instruments were ruined by the rampage of those swine; henceforth our only reckoning would be guesswork, based on our watches, the calendar, and our apparent rate of drift.

MUSIC\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 FADED OUT

\xa0

SCENE 25.

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 FEET COMING IN [KEINZE]

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Look at this.

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [coming in]\xa0 Ya?\xa0 Oh, ya, more dolphins.\xa0 Very exciting.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 No, no - this one here.\xa0 See the one with the scar?

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Ya.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 How deep are we, did we determine?

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Too deep for dolphins, certainly, but--

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 I have been watching this one in the searchlight for two hours now - and he has not left our side.\xa0 Delphinus delphis is a cetacean mammal, unable to subsist without air.

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Perhaps they are magic dolphins.\xa0 [trying to chuckle] I'm not interested in them until we run out of other rations.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 It is a very important discovery.\xa0 Perhaps a new sub-species.

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [sigh] I'm sure the dolphins will be fascinated when you present your paper to them.

MUSIC\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 IN AND UNDER

\xa0

SCENE 26.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [canned] With the passage of time Kienze and I decided that we were still drifting south, meanwhile sinking deeper and deeper. I could not help observing, however, the inferior scientific knowledge of my companion. His mind was not Prussian, but given to imaginings with no value.

MUSIC\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 HAS FADED OUT

\xa0

SCENE 27.

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 SEARCHLIGHT COMES ON

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Fabulous, isn\u2019t it?

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Sunken ships? Interesting, yes, but fabulous?\xa0 What else are you likely to find on the ocean floor?\xa0

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 No, no - look there.\xa0 To the right.\xa0 You see?\xa0 That peak.\xa0 It is --

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 A rock.

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 No!\xa0 It is too regular for a rock.\xa0 You will see when we get closer.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Wake me when you can see it, then.\xa0 I think I will have some sleep.

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 You don't care?

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Ya, ya.\xa0 Do you need me to remain?

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 SITS IN CHAIR

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [beat] We have lost our escort.

SOUND \xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0LEAFING THROUGH A BOOK

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Vas?

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Your beloved dolphins.\xa0 They have finally abandoned us.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 I am more surprised they remained with us so long.

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [beat] What are we to do?

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Do?\xa0 About the dolphins?\xa0 I am sure they can take care of themselves.

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 You know what I mean!\xa0 What are we to do when we run out of...\xa0 of... everything

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 That is days, perhaps weeks away.\xa0 Why waste angst?

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 But - there is no hope.\xa0 We will ... we must die.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Everyone must die.

KEINZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 We could try and get to the surface - one of us - in the diving suit.\xa0

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 And how deep did we decide we were?

KEINZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [beat, sigh] very deep.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 If you want to take the suit, and try to get it to the surface, you are welcome.\xa0 But you know what will happen.

KEINZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 It is possible to survive caissons disease. ["the bends"]\xa0 Even drastic decompression--

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 As a cripple?\xa0 With joints that never work without pain?\xa0 With skin so damaged no one can look you in the face?\xa0 Perhaps paralyzed, even?\xa0 Incontinent?

KEINZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [sigh]

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Better to die as a man than live as a beast. \xa0Of course you might be lucky and have an embolism on the way up, and then ride the waves as a corpse.\xa0

MUSIC\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 IN AND UNDER

\xa0

SCENE 28.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0 \xa0\xa0[canned] His mind was tired, but I am always a German, and was quick to notice that the U-29 was standing the deep-sea pressure splendidly. Our southward speed, as gauged by the ocean floor, was about as I had estimated from the organisms passed at higher levels.

MUSIC\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 FADE AND OUT

\xa0

SCENE 29.

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 BOTTLE POURS

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [slightly drunk]\xa0 Ya, plenty of air and food, but this [long gulping swig] won't last forever.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Not at the rate you are abusing it.

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 I cannot lose myself in study as you do.\xa0 What is the point?\xa0 So you know so much more before you die.\xa0

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 It is not impossible we will encounter another u-boat.

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Wake up Karl!\xa0 This boat - it is our tomb.\xa0 We are dead men.\xa0 All we have left to do is lie down.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Go to bed, Leutnant.\xa0 There is no point in talking when you are totalblau.

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [laughs bitterly]\xa0 You are going to give me orders yet?\xa0 What if I disobey?\xa0 You clap me in irons?\xa0 You will shoot me?

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [close and dangerous]\xa0 I will remind you that you are a man, a trained soldier, and an officer of the kaiser's navy, and as such you should have the will to face death.\xa0

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 I am a soldier, ya.\xa0 I can face death in battle.\xa0 It is this lingering, drifting fate that horrifies me.\xa0 It is like having a fatal disease - you know you must die, but you cannot know when.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Very well, then.

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 GUN OUT OF HOLSTER, CLICK AS BULLETS ARE CHECKED, GUN DROPPED ON TABLE

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 More air for me.

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 RATTLE OF CURTAIN, FOOTSTEPS LEAVE, RATTLE OF GUN ON TABLE

MUSIC\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 IN AND UNDER

\xa0

SCENE 30.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [canned] The fact of our coming death affected Kienze curiously.\xa0 I was very sorry for him, for I dislike to see a German suffer; but he was not a good man to die with. For myself I was proud, knowing how the Fatherland would revere my memory.

MUSIC\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 FADES OUT

\xa0

SCENE 31.

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 SNORING [KIENZE]

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [waking with a horrified start, screaming] He is calling! He is calling! I hear him!

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 FOOTSTEPS, DOOR

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [coming on]\xa0 What is wrong?

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 We must go!\xa0 He will not call forever!

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 SLAP

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [gasps, breathing hard, almost sobbing]

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [commanding] Calm down. Remember yourself, man.

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 V-v-vas?\xa0 Kaleu?

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 There you are.\xa0 [disdainful] You were having a nightmare.\xa0 Now you are better.\xa0

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 FOOTSTEPS BEGIN TO WALK AWAY

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 No.

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 FOOTSTEPS STOP

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [sigh] Vas?

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 It was not a dream.\xa0 It was a voice.\xa0 I still hear it, you see!\xa0 I still hear him.\xa0 He calls to me - to us.\xa0 I don't know why you cannot hear him!

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 You are still drunk.\xa0 Or deluded.

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 I am not.\xa0 Truly.\xa0 If you do not believe me, look out the porthole, and you will see his face.\xa0 It is right in front of us.\xa0

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 What?\xa0 Show me.\xa0 Ah - blackness.\xa0 Precisely what is between your ears.

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 The searchlight - kommen-zie!

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 FOOTSTEPS, SEARCHLIGHT COMES ON

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 There!\xa0 There!

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Mein gott!

MUSIC\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 IN AND UNDER

\xa0

SCENE 32.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [canned] I am not given to emotion of any kind, but my amazement was very great when I saw what lay revealed in that electrical glow. And yet as one reared in the best Kultur of Prussia, I should not have been amazed, for geology and tradition alike tell us of great transpositions in oceanic and continental areas. What I saw was an extended and elaborate array of ruined edifices; all in various stages of preservation.

MUSIC\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 OUT

\xa0

SCENE 33.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [pleased] Atlantis!\xa0 And we, Germans, have discovered it!\xa0 This is stupendous.

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 He is out there.\xa0 His temple lies still before us, and he watches us from afar.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 You saw this in your dreams?

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [disturbingly reasonable] He told me.\xa0 We should go.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Go?\xa0 Where?

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 To him.\xa0 Come now - do not wait until later; it is better to repent and be forgiven than to defy and be condemned.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 You think we should go outside?\xa0 We have only one diving apparatus.

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0 \xa0[laughs disturbingly]\xa0 A suit?\xa0 We need no suits - he will gather us to him.\xa0

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 You have finally crossed into madness.\xa0 I will find you some medication.

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 You cannot cure this with your science, Karl.\xa0 You are so sensible, and what does it get you?\xa0 Nothing.\xa0 Nothing!\xa0 Come now, or there will be nothing left for you!

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 You are mad.\xa0

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [losing it] If I am mad, it is a blessing. May the gods pity the man who in his callousness can remain sane to the hideous end! Come and be mad whilst he still calls with mercy! \xa0

MUSIC\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 IN AND UNDER

\xa0

SCENE 34.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [canned] As he spoke he took his ivory image from the table, pocketed it, and seized my arm in an effort to drag me up the companionway to the deck. \xa0When that did not work, he fled.\xa0 In a moment I heard the grind of the first hatch, and understood that he meant to open them both, exposing the U-29 to the water outside, a vagary of suicidal and homicidal mania for which I was scarcely prepared.

MUSIC\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 OUT

\xa0

SCENE 35.

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 THE HATCH WHEEL SPINS

SOUND \xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0GUN COCKS

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 One more move and I shoot.

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [laughs hysterically]\xa0 Shoot?\xa0 I have nothing to fear.\xa0 He will welcome me.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Did I say I would kill you?\xa0 I will shoot you in the leg, and clap you in irons.

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 You ... would do that!?

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Ya.\xa0 [jaunty]\xa0 But, I am not one to hold a man back.\xa0 If you wish to go, go.\xa0 I will even run the hatches for you.

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 You... why?

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Further, I will watch and make sure he finds you, once you are adrift.

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [plaintive] But you will not come with me?

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Nein.\xa0 I have things yet to accomplish.

KIENZE\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Very well.\xa0 But he will not be pleased with you if you ignore his summons.

MUSIC\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 IN AND UNDER

\xa0

SCENE 36.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [canned] After I saw that Kienze was no longer in the boat I threw the searchlight around the water. \xa0I wished to ascertain whether the water-pressure would flatten him as it theoretically should, or whether the body would be unaffected, like those extraordinary dolphins. I did not, however, succeed in finding my late companion, for, owing to the abruptness of the change of angle, a wire was disconnected, which necessitated a delay of many minutes for repairs.

MUSIC\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 OUT

\xa0

SCENE 37.

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 SEARCHLIGHT OUT

[NOTE: "HIS ECHO" REFERS TO HEINRICH'S OWN WORDS FROM EARLIER IN THE SHOW - COMING BACK TO HAUNT HIM.\xa0 THEY WILL BE PUT IN IN POST, AND HEINRICH SHOULD NOT REALLY PAY ANY ATTENTION TO THEM AS HE SPEAKS, AS THEY AREN'T ACTUALLY CONVERSING.]

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [slow sigh]

HIS ECHO\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [very quiet] He would have had a better chance if he let go and braved the waves.\xa0

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Alone.\xa0 To survive until I die.\xa0 [deep breath] Very well.\xa0

SOUND \xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0FOOTSTEPS

HIS ECHO\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [very quiet]\xa0 One more victim of the unjust war of aggression...

SOUND \xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0PULL OUT BOOK, OPEN AND PAGE THROUGH.

\xa0

SCENE 38.

MUSIC IN

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [canned] I must be careful how I record my awakening today, for I am unstrung, and much hallucination is necessarily mixed with fact. Psychologically my case is most interesting, and I regret that it cannot be observed scientifically by a competent German authority.

HIS ECHO\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 If you were a solid Prussian like myself--

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Upon opening my eyes my first sensation was an overmastering desire to visit the rock temple that stood before the now-stationary U29.

HIS ECHO\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 No, no. I have not the sentimental--

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 a desire which grew every instant, yet which I automatically sought to resist.

MUSIC OUT

\xa0

SCENE 39.

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 VAGUE CHANTING, DEEP UNDER.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 [Waking suddenly]\xa0 Heh?\xa0 What is this?

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 SCRABBLE OUT OF BED, CROSS ROOM

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Light?\xa0 Where is this coming from?\xa0 [wild hope] Could it be?

SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 RUN THROUGH SHIP

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Where?\xa0 Another ship?\xa0 [muttered] Port side, port side.\xa0 Aha! [sound of triumph turns into sound of dismay]\xa0

HIS ECHO\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Superstitious rubbish.\xa0

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 It is alight!

MUSIC UP

\xa0

SCENE 40.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 It is well that the reader accept nothing which follows as objective truth, for the events are necessarily the subjective and unreal creations of my overtaxed mind.

HIS ECHO\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 It is all a trick of the light.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 When I attained the conning tower I found the sea in general far less luminous than I had expected. But the door and windows of the undersea temple hewn from the rocky hill were vividly aglow with a flickering radiance, as from a mighty altar-flame far within.

HIS ECHO\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 I will have none of this wild peasant superstition on my ship!

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 The light showed that the friezes which covered the front of the temple, clearly carved from the solid rock of the cliffside, depicted many repetitions of but one face - the same face as the ivory bust which Kienze had carried back to the sea with him.

HIS ECHO\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 --this one is much too young and handsome.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 The rest is very simple.

HIS ECHO\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 --a god.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 My impulse to visit and enter the temple has now become an inexplicable and imperious command which ultimately cannot be denied.

HIS ECHO\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 This soft-headedness is not good.\xa0

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 My own German will no longer controls my acts, and volition is henceforward possible only in minor matters.

HIS ECHO\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Do not show weakness.\xa0 It makes you sound unreliable.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 When first I saw that I must go,

HIS ECHO\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 That is most unfortunate.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 I prepared my diving suit, helmet, and air regenerator for instant donning,

HIS ECHO\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 --have an embolism on the way up, and ride the waves as a corpse.\xa0

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 and immediately commenced to write this hurried chronicle in the hope that it may some day reach the world.

HIS ECHO\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 This is your part.\xa0

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 I shall seal the manuscript in a bottle and entrust it to the sea as I leave the U-29 forever.

HIS ECHO\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Better to die as a man than live as a beast.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 I have no fear, not even from the prophecies of the madman Kienze.

HIS ECHO\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 None but a weakling would surrender

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 What I have seen cannot be true, and I know that this madness of my own, will at most lead only to suffocation when my air is gone.

HIS ECHO\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 you should have the will to face death.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 The light in the temple is a sheer delusion, and I shall die calmly like a German, in the black and forgotten depths.

HIS ECHO\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Why waste angst?

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 This demoniac laughter which I hear as I write comes only from my own weakening brain.

HIS ECHO\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 blackness.\xa0 Precisely what is between your ears.

HEINRICH\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 So I will carefully don my suit and walk boldly up the steps into the primal shrine, that silent secret of unfathomed waters and uncounted years.

HIS ECHO\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 If you wish to go, go.\xa0

END

\xa0