- [last lines]
- Mr. Justice Langton: It is right and proper, and a part of my duty which I shall gladly discharge, to recognise to the full the courage, devotion and sacrifice of each of these men. I should not like to leave this case without thanking everybody concerned for having given me the best working day of my life, in listening to the very modest recital of some gallant gentlemen concerning a memorable achievement.
- Tugboat Captain: [hailing San Demetrio approaching the Clyde] I'd like to know how they expect me to tow a ship your size.
- Chief Engineer Charles Pollard: Who the hell's asking you to?
- 2nd. Officer Hawkins: We can manage alright as we are.
- Tugboat Captain: Spoken like a sailor. But it'll take y'a long time.
- Chief Engineer Charles Pollard: How many knots can you make?
- Tugboat Captain: Nine.
- Chief Engineer Charles Pollard: I can make twelve.
- [Grins at 2nd Officer and flicks emphatic V-sign at Tugboat Captain]
- Chief Engineer Charles Pollard: Mr Hawkins, As senior deck officer, you're in charge of this boat. If you want advice about anything, you're welcome, but don't think you have to ask me. I can take orders as well as give 'em.
- [Looking at deck gun]
- Deckhand: A gun is like a woman. You can't tell what it's like until you're in action. Then it's too late.
- Captain George Waite: [proposing a toast] I looks towards you.
- R.J.E. Dodds - Shipping Manager: I catches your eye.
- Captain George Waite: I bows according.
- R.J.E. Dodds - Shipping Manager: Down the hatch.
- Boatswain W.E. Fletcher: I look at it this way. We set out to take this petrol to England and we've got it half way already. Doesn't seem sense in turning it round and taking it back again
- Boatswain W.E. Fletcher: First stop England!
- On Board M.V. San Demetrio: Apprentice John Jones: First stop Wales...
- Messboy John Jamieson: First stop Scotland. It's the Clyde we're bound for.
- 'Yank' Preston: You're all getting mighty particular. There's a hell of a lump of land ahead of us there somewhere.
- 2nd. Officer Hawkins: Good job too. If we fetch up anywhere between Narvik and Gibraltar we'll be lucky.
- 'Yank' Preston: They're singing alright. Here we are rolling about in a gale in the middle of the Atlantic, U-boats all around, no escort, and as far as the British are concerned it still seems to be Saturday night.
- 'Yank' Preston: Ya know, the smell of paint always makes me sick.
- Boatswain W.E. Fletcher: Well, if you are, you can clean that up too.
- Boatswain W.E. Fletcher: Let me give you a tip mate. There's a British Board of Trade regulation which says that no man may board a tanker when he's drunk. And the bosun's there to see no one breaks that rule.
- 'Yank' Preston: Bosuns? I eat 'em raw.
- Deckhand: Nice drop o' gun, this.
- Deckhand: Alright to look at. But guns are like women. You can't tell till you're in action, an' then it's too late.
- Deckhand: Ooh. Stoopin' ain't much in my line today.
- Deckhand: Too much wallop last night...
- Deckhand: You never know when you're goin' to sail. I've been 'avin' goodbye booze-ups all week, just in case.
- Deckhand: Look out - here's the old man...
- Boatswain W.E. Fletcher: And get a move on Yank. I want that finished by sunset.
- 'Yank' Preston: By sunset? What do you think I am?
- Boatswain W.E. Fletcher: A lazy cowson. What do you think you signed on for?
- 'Yank' Preston: Why did the chicken cross the road. To get to the other side.
- Boatswain W.E. Fletcher: Well, we signed you on to work. Haven't noticed any other passengers on board, have you?
- Deckhand: Can't we have a go now Bos?
- Boatswain W.E. Fletcher: Get away, she's miles out of our range.
- Deckhand: We're not miles out of hers...
- Captain George Waite: How about a peg?
- R.J.E. Dodds - Shipping Manager: Not much time left, eh?
- Captain George Waite: You know me, dry as a dog's dinner from shore to shore. Not that you give us much time ashore.
- R.J.E. Dodds - Shipping Manager: Well George, a cargo of petrol's worth all the tea in a China these days, so growl you may...
- Captain George Waite: ...But go, I must!