Pursuit of the Graf Spee (1956)

Anthony Bushell: Mr. Millington Drake - British Minister, Montevideo

Quotes 

• Dr. Guani - Foreign Minister, Uruguay : Why are your agents now trying to delay the sailing of the Graf Spee? Explain this change of attitude.

  Mr. Millington Drake - British Minister, Montevideo : Your Excellency, it's not a change of attitude.

  Dr. Guani - Foreign Minister, Uruguay : No?

  Mr. Millington Drake - British Minister, Montevideo : No - it's a change of strategy.

• Captain McCall - R.N., British Naval Attache for Buenos Aires : [McCall is telephoning the British Ambassador in Buenos Aires to try to spread a rumour]  An emergency has arisen over the 'Graf Spee'.

  British Ambassador in Buenos Aires (Voice) : Careful, McCall - security.

  Captain McCall - R.N., British Naval Attache for Buenos Aires : I know, sir, but this is most urgent. I have just heard by Admiralty code...

  British Ambassador in Buenos Aires (Voice) : This isn't a scrambler, you know.

  Captain McCall - R.N., British Naval Attache for Buenos Aires : ...that two of our capital ships...

  British Ambassador in Buenos Aires (Voice) : Are you MAD, McCall? I'm going to hang up!

  Captain McCall - R.N., British Naval Attache for Buenos Aires : Sir, I must insist - in this case urgency overrides security.

  British Ambassador in Buenos Aires (Voice) : 'Urgency overrides security?' Well, well, well, go on, go on.

  Captain McCall - R.N., British Naval Attache for Buenos Aires : Both these capital ships will be calling in the next few hours at Bahia...

  British Ambassador in Buenos Aires (Voice) : I told you before, this is not a scrambler!

  Captain McCall - R.N., British Naval Attache for Buenos Aires : ...at Bahia Blanca to refuel.

  British Ambassador in Buenos Aires (Voice) : MCCALL!

  Mr. Millington Drake - British Minister, Montevideo : [Groans]  Oh...

  Captain McCall - R.N., British Naval Attache for Buenos Aires : They'll be down to their last drop when they arrive.

  British Ambassador in Buenos Aires (Voice) : Stop it, stop it!

  Captain McCall - R.N., British Naval Attache for Buenos Aires : They... they've steamed at full speed for the Plate for obvious reasons...

  British Ambassador in Buenos Aires (Voice) : Fellow's raving mad.

  Captain McCall - R.N., British Naval Attache for Buenos Aires : They request that we arrange for 2,000 tons of fuel oil...

  British Ambassador in Buenos Aires (Voice) : Really McCall, YOU MUST STOP!

  Captain McCall - R.N., British Naval Attache for Buenos Aires : ...of fuel oil to be available in tankers as from tonight.

  British Ambassador in Buenos Aires (Voice) : [Silence, as Ambassador realises what McCall is doing]  Oh... very well, McCall. Yes, we got your message.

  [Hangs up] 

  Ray Martin : The afternoon papers'll be out soon. Knowing how leaky the telephone cables are between here and Buenos Aires, I shall expect to see the headlines screaming that half the British fleet are off Punta del Este.