Welcome to Subterranean Cinema , The perfect place to watch classic movies originating from your local TV station, PBS Fort Wayne.

I'm your host, Kris Hensler.

And tonight, we'll be watching Beneath the 12-Mile Reef from 1953.

Also tonight, I am joined by Logan Nickloy.

Logan, thanks for stopping by the basement screening room.

Thanks for having me.

We certainly appreciate it.

So you've been here a few times, but just as a quick review, why don't you tell people what you do here at the station?

Sure thing.

I am the underwriting producer.

I also help out on various productions, whatever we have going on here at the station.

I also occasionally dress up like a pirate and play “Pirate Steve” on TV.

So, Kris, why don't we get started with tonight's film?

Yeah, let's do that.

So tonight's classic movie is Beneath the 12-Mile Reef , starring Robert Wagner, Terry Moore and Gilbert Roland.

This film was shot in 1953 on the Gulf Coast of Florida near Tarpon Springs.

The story revolves around Mike and Tony Petrakis, a father and son team of sponge fishermen that work off the coast of Florida.

But after a fatal accident, Tony is left to carry on the business by himself.

And to this day, Tarpon Springs is still the center of the natural sponge industry in the US.

Interesting.

This is the third film to ever be shot in Cinemascope and the first to shoot Cinemascope underwater.

This is the first effective way to shoot and project film in a widescreen format.

Before this, movies were shot and shown in a basically square format.

The Robe was the first picture released in Cinemascope, and the poster proudly proclaims The modern miracle.

You can see without glasses, a reference to 3-D movies.

In this movie, you'll notice a lot of sunrises and sunsets and sweeping ocean shots, all to show off this new wide format.

Cinemascope was a huge hit and the audiences loved it.

So much so that the screen you're currently watching is widescreen largely due to the success of Cinemascope.

And you probably know by now that we hate to give away too much of the plot, but like any good drama, the boy meets girl romance here causes problems between two competing families.

And, well, we'll just let you see how this plays out for yourself.

But we should also mention that this film was a huge boost in Robert Wagner's career.

But during filming, he almost died.

In one of the underwater scenes, another swimmer accidentally kicks him in the stomach.

He's sent straight to the bottom and had to be rescued by another crew member.

Lucky for us, he survived and had a long career in movies and television.

Anyway, let's get out the popcorn, pour some drinks and settle in for Beneath the 12-Mile Reef.

You're watching Subterranean Cinema only on PBS Fort Wayne.

(dramatic music) (grand orchestral music) (soft orchestral music) >> Narrator: This is the world beneath the sea.

Beautiful, mysterious, and for the most part, unexplored by man.

These are the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, off the west coast of Florida.

(mysterious orchestral music) This is a sponge fisherman, a special breed of man dedicated to the most dangerous of all occupations.

>> Tony: Net's comin' up.

>> Hey, Socrates, where are you going?

>> I wear the suit, I go down.

>> No you're not.

We're going home.

>> We can't go home with an empty boat, Pop.

>> I can hear them laugh when we bring this garbage in the auction market.

>> You know what we need?

We need a diver who's got eyes like an eel, a nose like a shark, so he can smell sponges a mile away, a diver who'll go down and he won't come up until the boat's loaded with hundred-dollar strings.

And you got him, he's right here onboard.

>> Oh.

Hmm.

Well.

Hmm, who?

>> Me, who else?

(men laughing) (grand orchestral music) Hey, it's Penny.

Hey, Pop, look, it's Mom and Penny.

>> There they are, over there, Mama!

>> And look who else.

Sofotes.

Sofotes with a big smile on his face, and the itching hand.

>> Hey, Pop, look at Sinan's boat, The Helios.

>> Hello, baby!

>> Oh, Papa, we missed you so.

>> Oh, you sweetheart.

You miss me?

>> Oh, you don't know how much.

>> How are you?

Give your Papa a big kiss.

>> Penny saw you down the river.

It's good you're back.

>> Did the boys bother her very much while I was away?

(all laughing) What are you doing here, woman?

Why aren't you home in your kitchen, cooking?

>> Who should I cook for?

Empty house?

>> This is how she talks.

For a long time you no see each other.

Give kiss, eh?

Say big hello.

>> Ah.

He lends you money.

Now he wants to run your life.

Bah.

Hey Tony, bring me one of those sponges.

When we're alone, I'll say big hello, aye, Mama?

Hmm?

>> Hey, what you try to do, yeah?

>> Oh let him have it, we got plenty.

>> Thanks.

Hey Pop, look.

Wool sponges, a whole load.

>> Best wool I ever seen.

>> $100 strings.

>> They come out of deep water.

>> Man: Hey, Mike, they're reading out the bids.

>> Come on.

>> Go ahead.

I go back to my kitchen and cook, go.

>> Hey, she's trying to get rid of ya.

How do you like that?

(laughs) >> The bids on the cargo sponge from the boat Helios.

Ajax Sponge Company, $17,500.

(man cheering) My squid brother.

(laughing) Hey.

Where did you get that sponge?

>> Where did you get it?

That's what we wanna know.

>> You seen what I brought, you like, huh, huh?

Ah, sweet sponge.

(cheers) >> Okay, okay, sport.

How about letting us in the big secret?

We'd like to dance, too.

>> Hey, Sinan, where did you get it?

>> We went to the 12 Mile Reef.

>> Nobody's been out to the 12 Mile Reef, not since it killed my brother, Pete.

>> That's where we went, right up to Pete's marker where he's still in the water.

We went way down.

Over 20 fathoms down.

>> Oh, oh, big talk.

Big pants fit loose on you.

You lose your feet in the shoes, and you too scared to go down.

>> Sinan: I went down, all right.

>> If you went down, you saw the reef.

What does it look like?

>> Oh, oh, oh.

You're looking at a ghost.

I died down there.

That coral is beautiful, but sharp, like a razor, and cuts your suit to ribbons.

There are caves everywhere.

You air line get tangled up until you think you're never gonna get out of there.

Cliffs, they drop, I don't know how deep.

There's an undersea tide that runs just like a river, keep pushing you off.

I wouldn't go down there again for all the sponges in the world.

>> You'll spend your money.

You'll go broke.

You'll go down again.

>> Now ready to announce the winning bid.

Mr. Carson of the New York Sponge Company bids $22,500.

(Sinan cheering) >> Everybody, Petriarki's, come on!

I buy the drinks!

(Sinan cheering) >> What you got in mind?

>> You wanna sell your sponges?

>> Sure.

>> I'll give you $600 for them.

>> $600, are you kidding?

>> Sold.

They're yours.

>> What are you doin', Pop?

After all the work we did bringin' 'em in, you're giving 'em away.

>> Tony, the man wants to buy, we sell.

We're lucky to get stuff like this off our hands.

>> Tony: Okay, Pop.

>> Uh-uh-uh-uh, you borrow money, you pay, huh?

Little for you, little for me.

My hands still itch.

>> Then scratch 'em.

That's all you get.

Come on, Tony.

>> Nickel, nickel, nickel.

If you don't be careful, I'm gonna get your boat.

>> You'll never get my boat, Sofotes.

>> You old skin flint.

>> Hey, Tony, please, you don't call me bad name, eh?

>> He's right, you are a skin flint.

Always you pinch, pinch, pinch, pinch.

>> Don't get any idea you're gonna get our boat.

It belongs in the family.

>> Sofrates: If you don't pay, it's going to belong in my family.

>> Tony.

(singing in foreign language) >> There.

There's Tony and Mike.

>> Where?

>> There.

>> How you feel, Tony?

>> Fine, Pop.

>> Ah.

(water splashing) >> Do you see him, Socrates?

>> No.

(water splashing) (people cheering) >> Tony!

>> He got it, Mom, he's got it!

(people cheering) >> Brava, Tony, my boy!

That's my Tony!

Mama, Mama!

My Tony!

(people cheering) (speaking in foreign language) (singing in foreign language) (singing in foreign language) (men laughing) >> Socrates, Vitelli.

Hey, Tony, you find cross, eh?

You bring blessing.

I gonna touch you for good luck.

>> No, you no touch for free.

It's gonna cost you $5.

(men laughing) >> All right, take it off the bill.

>> Okay!

(men laughing) Wait, I gonna make a toast.

For you, Sofotes.

To Tony, who got the cross.

>> Men: Tony!

>> Hey, Socrates, now you got the cross, where you going next trip, huhh?

>> Well, we're going up north.

Any place we go now, we gonna get the sponge.

>> No, I don't know.

If I was Mike, I'd be pretty sick bringing empty boat.

(men laughing) >> Oh wait, wait, you gonna see.

Next time we go out, we gonna come home with a full load.

>> Ah, he's right.

Where we're going, we'll get a full load.

(laughing) >> Hey, Mike wait, wait Mike.

Full load of sponges, what you mean?

You mean we go to 12 Mile Reef, is that what you say?

>> Who said 12 Mile Reef?

We're going to pick the Glades.

>> Mike, what's the matter with you, Mike?

You forget the hook boats.

>> Who's scared of hook boats?

>> Me.

Socrates Houlis, I'm scared.

We don't belong in the Glades.

>> Who said so?

>> Tony, you don't understand.

Long time ago, before you born, your Papa, me, plenty other Greeks, we come to tap on the Englishmen, "Go to Key West," and they work the Glades.

>> The Conch heads.

>> In old days, there's plenty sponge.

Any place you go, enough for everybody, we don't have no trouble.

But now, all the beds are picked, is no sponge left expect in deep water, like 12 Mile Reef or Glades.

But the Conchs, Englishmen, whatever you call them, he say (bangs) no.

>> We are going to pick the Glades.

>> But Mike, if they catch us?

>> They're not going to catch us.

Why do you worry so much?

There are 10,000 little keys in the Glades.

We start before the sun comes up.

By noon, we have finished a day's work and then we hide like a little mouse in his hole.

To which, we come home.

>> If we're lucky.

>> If we're lucky?

Tony got the cross, didn't he?

>> Yeah.

>> The bishop blessed the boat, didn't he?

How much more luck do we need?

>> I'm gonna work bottom, Pop, don't forget.

You promised.

I'm gonna find the most beautiful sponges you ever saw.

All wool, $200 strings.

>> And you're going to pay me, and my hand gonna stop itch.

>> Oh, the first thing we're gonna do when we get home is kiss you off.

How do you like that, you old skin flint?

(men cheering) (soft orchestral music) >> Todd, stop the engine, it's too much noise.

>> When you come up, it's my turn to go down.

Shallow water's the safest place to break in.

>> No place safe, Tony.

I remember up north, 33 feet I go down, stay too long, I get the bends.

If they don't pack me ice to freeze my blood, I be dead right now.

>> You can't scare me, I'm going down.

>> We'll see.

>> What do you mean we'll see?

You promised.

>> Listen, Tony, we gotta get out of here fast.

We got no time to fool around.

>> Who's gonna fool around?

I'm gonna work bottom, same as you.

You promised me, Pop.

>> I know, I know, I keep my promise.

You can go down when we work up north.

>> You can't do that to me, Pop, we gave me your word.

You said that if I- >> Shh, shh, shh.

Every sound like a bullet.

>> Hey Mike, Mike.

Look over there.

(bird calling) >> Socrates: Oh Mike, I no like.

>> What you no like?

>> Crane.

He don't fly just because he like to fly.

Something scared him.

>> Aw, he just finished feeding.

He's going home.

Come on, rig me.

I go down.

>> Okay, all right.

(soft orchestral music) For compression, we'll use handle.

>> Man: Okay.

(water splashing) (mysterious orchestral music) >> Tony: Net comin' up.

>> Man: Hold it, hold it.

Look.

>> What they do?

>> Tony: Ah, take it easy, will ya?

It's just one little dingy with two guys workin'.

(Tony whistles) See, what'd I tell ya?

They don't care about us.

>> How far out Mikey?

>> Tony: Couple hundred feet.

>> Too far, signal to come up.

>> Tony: What far?

>> Because I no like, give signal.

(water splashing) He's got Mike's air hose!

No, Tony, don't shoot, don't shoot!

>> Don't try any tricks or I'll chop her in two.

>> Do like he say.

>> That's right.

Just do what I tell ya and everything will be fine.

We want your sponges.

All of 'em.

>> Why you- >> No, Tony.

Put down the gun, put it down.

(gunshot bangs) (tense, dramatic orchestral music) >> You pick the Glades, and this is what you get.

You Greeks oughta know better to come into our waters.

>> Tony: Where do you get that stuff, your waters?

You Conchs don't own the Glades.

There's no law says we can't work here.

>> Tradition makes its own laws.

Keep out of the Glades or next time we'll burn you down to the waterline.

>> You and I will bring the Gwyneth in, let's go.

>> Any time you pick the Glades, you get the same thing.

(tense, dramatic orchestral music) >> Hey, Long Arm, come here.

Look what Thomas has got.

>> Jemmy, Jemmy!

>> Wonder where Thomas got that load.

>> Dad!

(both laughing) Where'd you get 'em?

>> Greeks picked 'em for us.

>> They were poaching in the Glades.

>> Come on, help us get 'em off!

There's a drink in it for everyone!

(men chattering) >> Man: When they see us comin', their eyeball's will stick out a foot.

>> After we sell the sponges, you know what I'm gonna do with my share?

>> You're going to throw a party?

>> Nah I'm gonna buy a house.

A house and some furniture.

Tables, chairs, stove, a bed.

Then you know what?

>> What?

No, don't tell me, let me guess.

You're gonna move in.

>> We're gonna move in.

We're gonna get married.

>> You and me?

>> Uh- huh.

>> Oh, ho-ho-ho, really?

Wait a minute, maybe I've forgotten and I can't remember, have you asked me yet?

>> I'm asking now.

>> Why don't you take my hand and say it?

"Gwyneth, will you marry me?"

>> Gwyneth, will you marry me?

>> Suppose I say no.

>> You won't.

>> Tell me, Arnold, do you love me?

>> You know I do.

>> Yes, I know you do, and I love you, too.

Like I love one of my brothers.

(Gwyneth laughs) >> Well, I'm not your brother.

>> You don't have to tell me.

>> Gwyneth, stop fooling.

Will you marry me or won't you?

>> Arnold, if I said yes, I'd feel no.

And if I said no, I'd feel yes.

I don't know what to say.

But, maybe if I get acquainted with lots and lots of boys it would help me make up my mind.

>> Yeah, and what do I do while you're being helped?

>> You can get acquainted with lots and lots of girls.

>> I don't want lots of girls, I just want you.

>> Me?

Marriage would be nice.

A husband.

Baby.

But I think I'm too young.

Don't you think so, Arnold?

(Gwyneth laughing) No, I don't wanna get married.

Not just yet.

(both laughing) >> I guess a girl has to be hard to get.

Makes it all the nicer when you get her.

>> Hey Arnold, better lend a hand before you spend that share.

(both laughing) (tense, dramatic orchestral music) >> Socrates: Eyes open, ears listen, hear what?

We come back.

>> Hey Pop, why don't we tell the Coast Guard they swiped our sponges?

>> It won't do any good.

We can't prove anything.

We gotta take care of this ourselves.

This is the boat.

The sponges are here somewhere.

They hide 'em someplace.

>> Hey Mike, what you wanna do?

Open every door, look in every place?

The sponges, they lost, they gone.

Now where do you go now?

>> I'm going to find that fellow.

I'm going to see how brave he is without the ax.

You go back to the boat, go on.

>> Okay.

Well, maybe you gonna need somebody to carry you.

>> You like to collect Conchs, we'd like to collect some, too.

>> Okay.

We go together.

>> All right.

Ah, such a big place, so many streets.

How you going to find?

>> What would we do if we got home with all those sponges?

>> Ah, what we do, we celebrate.

>> That's just what they're doing.

Celebrating.

We try here first.

(soft jazzy music) (people chattering) Ha ha, thieves, robbers, crooks!

We have come to measure you for your coffins.

>> Operator.

Let me have the police, quick.

>> What's the matter?

You never seen Greeks before?

>> Sure.

Look how scared they are.

A room full of Conchs scared of three Greeks.

Two Greeks.

I'm not counting him.

Well what about it?

Can a man get a drink around here?

>> Why not?

Jamison.

Whiskey for the Greeks.

>> Yes, Mister Rhys.

>> You sure we don't spoil the party, eh?

>> Thomas: Sit down.

>> Hey, Tony.

>> Well, we might as well get acquainted.

This is my Pop, Mike Petrakis.

>> Socrates: Socrates Houlis, Greek.

>> And I'm Tony.

>> I'm Thomas Rhys.

These are my two sons.

That's David, that's Griff.

This is Arnold Dix.

>> Oh.

The man with the ax.

>> I'm his daughter, Gwyneth Rhys.

>> Gwyneth.

Hey, that's a pretty name.

>> Young Greek looks at a pretty girl, gets hot blood.

(Thomas chuckles) >> What's on your mind, Greek?

>> What's on my mind?

Sponges.

What do you think?

Ah, you fooled us.

We work and we work, and you take everything away.

But no hard feelings, huh?

This time you win, next time we win, what's the difference, eh?

>> Do you mind if I dance with your daughter, Mr. Rhys?

>> Don't ask me, ask him.

(Arnold laughs) >> Go ahead, ask me.

>> You might have better luck if you ask me.

>> Dance?

>> Sure.

Why not?

(soft jazzy music) >> Hey that guy acts like he owns you.

>> Maybe he does.

Maybe he doesn't.

>> What kind of an answer do you call that?

>> Why don't you find out?

>> Maybe I will.

>> You better be careful, he might eat you up alive.

He won't even bother to take off your hat.

>> I got a pretty good appetite myself.

>> Yeah?

You let him take away your sponges.

>> I'm dancing with his girl.

>> Tony.

>> The record's still playin'.

(soft jazzy music) We're making our own music.

>> Gwyneth: No, Arnold.

(siren wailing) (soft jazzy music) (man whistling) >> Two is a company, three is a crowd.

>> I'm gonna be the biggest crowd that kid ever saw.

(Gwyneth laughing) >> I don't know why I'm running.

He's not after me.

>> No, he's after me, I'm after you.

(Gwyneth squealing and laughing) >> Cut it out, Greek.

>> Sure.

>> I mean give me back my hand, too.

>> Sure.

>> Do you always do what people tell you to?

>> Sure, ask me to kiss you, see what happens.

>> Crazy Greek.

>> Hey, you wanna know what my real name is?

Adonis.

My momma named me after a Greek god.

I'm a very beautiful young man.

>> Why, the whole bunch of you must be crazy coming here.

You know how Conchs feel about Greeks.

>> Want me to tell you how Greeks feel about Conchs?

>> You're always poaching in the Glades.

Why don't you stay over the line where you belong?

>> Where do you get that line stuff?

The Glades belong to everybody.

You've got a lot of nerve.

>> I know one Greek that's got a lot of nerve.

>> Oh, I don't wanna fight.

All I wanna do is hold hands.

(soft, whimsical music) Hey, you're pretty.

Anybody ever tell you you were pretty?

Aw, you don't need that.

Come on, ask me to kiss ya.

I'll be glad to oblige.

>> Do I have to ask?

>> No.

(Gwyneth grunts) >> Hey, I wanna know, what's with you and that guy?

>> He just wants to marry me, that's all.

>> Him?

He's too old for a kid like you.

He must be at least 27.

>> He's gonna buy a house with his share of your sponges.

We're gonna move in, have lots of kids.

>> Hey, do you like blue eyes?

>> Yes, I do.

>> Marry me and all your kids'll have blue eyes, I'll guarantee it, personally.

(Gwyneth laughs) >> You're real crazy.

(Gwyneth gasps) Cut it out, Greek.

>> It's all right.

We've been properly introduced.

You're sure you don't wanna be kissed?

You don't know what you're missin'.

Let me know if you change your mind.

Hey.

You smell prettier than any flower.

>> You're absolutely crazy.

Greek?

>> Yeah?

>> Gwyneth: Tony!

>> Don't hit him Tony, don't hit him.

He's mine.

He's all mine.

Okay.

Now I'll see how big a man you are without the ax.

How you wanna fight?

Conch style?

Greek style?

(Arnold grunts) >> Hey, stop it, you don't know Arnold.

He'll hurt your father.

>> You don't know my Pop.

>> All right.

Now we fight Greek style.

>> Don't!

He's had enough.

>> Oh, I won't hurt him.

I'm just going to make him eat the cigar.

Now you be a good boy and open your mouth.

Come on, come on.

Come on, open your mouth.

Open it.

That's a good boy.

How does it taste, huh?

(Arnold grunting) Good.

That's a boy.

Well, what do you think of your fellow now, huh?

Not a very good fighter without the ax, huh?

Hey Tony, you kiss the girl goodbye.

We go.

Hey, Tony, that's enough goodbye.

>> I'll be seeing you honey.

Tonight, in my dreams, honey.

(Greeks laughing) (singing in foreign language) >> Fresh Greek.

>> Where you been, you been gone so long.

>> Mike: I gave that fellow a taste of my fist.

(laughs) >> Right, okay, now we go home.

>> We're not going home.

We're going out to the 12 Mile Reef.

>> Mike.

Mike, what you say?

>> I'm sick of going home with an empty boat.

When we go home, we're going to have sponges, a full load, more than Sinan.

We're gonna have money.

We're gonna pay Sofotes.

A man has to do his work.

He can't be scared all the time.

Come on, pull 'em out!

(tense orchestral music) (mysterious, whimsical orchestral music) >> It's marker.

What you thinking, Mike?

>> I think about Tony.

I promise he would work bottom.

>> Aye.

>> Tony.

Hey Tony, you asleep?

>> That noise.

Like water frolicking.

You hear it?

Different.

>> That's the reef, breathing.

I tell you truth, Tony, it's beautiful down there.

Way down into the reef, there's lots of fish.

All kinds of fish.

All the life is in the reef.

Prettiest thing you've ever seen.

There is grass down there.

Grass like in the forest.

And when the tide runs, it makes that grass move like the wind.

(whooshing) Oh, it's beautiful.

There are caves down there full of sponges.

You have never seen so many sponges.

You go in, you pick, you pick all you want.

Millions of sponges.

First time you go down in deep water, you get scared.

Oh.

You don't know how scared you can be.

After a while, you forget.

But the reef?

The reef never forgets.

It waits.

It waits all the time.

Then one day when you are not looking...

It grabs you.

Tony, I've been thinking about a lot of things- >> I'm gonna work tomorrow.

>> You can't.

>> Tony: Pop, you promised me.

You gave me your word.

>> I know, and I know how you feel.

And you will dive when the right time comes.

But you see, I promise your Mama, too.

I promised that I would take care of you.

That's why you're going to stay here this time.

You understand, boy.

(water splashing) (mysterious orchestral music) >> Pop's signaling.

Net coming up.

Soc!

Soc!

Soc!

The line paid out, all the way, like he dropped off the reef.

Soc, Soc!

>> Hold him, Tony, try to hold him with the lifeline.

(tense, mysterious music) >> The lifeline broke.

He's not controlling his air!

>> He's gonna freeze!

>> Stop the compressor, stop the compressor, Tony.

He cannot work the valve.

If it stop, give him no more air.

>> Pull up, pull up.

>> Soc!

Help me!

Help me, Soc!

>> Tony, get him up, quick, quick.

Quick.

Tony, we gotta pack him in ice.

Start the engine, quick.

(engine sputtering) (Mike wailing) >> Papa, he's alive, he's alive.

>> I don't know why he no be dead.

God watch him.

Mike, Mike, we gonna pack you on ice.

We pack you an ice so you don't hurt too bad.

(Mike yelling) Quick, hurry up!

Everybody!

Full speed, Tony, full speed!

(Mike yelling) All right, all right.

(Mike yelling) Captain, we got man hurt bad, we need ice.

You give some ice?

>> Sure.

Hey.

Now give 'em some ice over there.

>> Socrates: Over there.

>> Man: What's the matter with him?

>> Socrates: Booshka.

>> He's got the bends.

He's my Pop.

>> We gotta pack in the ice, take him to to Tarpon.

>> Looks of him, he'll never make it.

Lots quicker to take him to Key West.

Hey, radio the port captain.

Tell 'em a sponge boat, how you say your name?

>> Agley.

>> Sponge boat Agley out of Tarpon, puttin' in with an injured man.

Got the bends bad.

Tell 'em to have an ambulance waitin' at the fish dock.

>> All right, plenty enough ice.

>> Man: You go to Key West, to the fish dock.

You'll have an ambulance waitin' for ya.

>> All right.

You hear Mike?

We gonna hurry, Mike.

Please, how much we owe?

We like to pay.

>> Oh let it go.

>> Thank you.

Tony, start the engine, quick.

It's gonna be all right, Mike.

It's gonna be all right.

All right, Mike.

>> That Greek boat just came in.

Must've had an accident.

Man on board looked like he was hurt pretty bad.

>> Was it the boy?

>> Couldn't tell.

Whoever it was, they had him packed in ice.

Saw an ambulance come down, a big crowd, and the Coast Guard was there, too.

>> He slip off the reef, line pay out, all the line, all the hose.

Looked like valve stick.

He come up fast, fast, suit fill up.

Booshka.

How is he, doc?

>> He's dead.

(dramatic, melancholy music) >> You'll have to file a report with the Coast Guard.

We wanna know how this happened.

Bring along a couple members of your crew.

>> All right, we'll go with you.

George, Clyde, come with me.

You watch the boat.

(dramatic, melancholy music) >> Tony.

>> Lad.

I'm sorry.

>> Gwyneth: Tony.

>> Oh, Pop.

Pop.

(Tony sobbing) (melancholy music) It couldn't have been me.

It couldn't have been Soc.

It had to be Pop.

>> Hey Arnold, that Greek boat's back.

Look what she's got.

>> Fishin' the Glades again, huh?

They'll never learn.

All right, we'll teach 'em.

>> No, no, don't steal sponge!

>> Hey, wait a minute.

You got your share last week.

Tonight they picked for us.

These are our sponge.

>> Sure, we'll be glad to buy you a drink.

>> All right, let's get 'em unloaded.

(tense, dramatic music) >> Paul: No!

>> Fire, let's get 'em out!

(tense, dramatic music) (flames crackling) >> Hey, there's a fire on Pier Three, a Greek boat burning.

>> Man: We'll go right over.

Stand by and get underway.

(bell rings) Take in your forward, take in your spare line.

(fire crackling) (men yelling) >> Anybody see how this fire started?

>> Paul.

>> Paul, did you see who did it?

>> I work.

They come.

>> Paul, tell the man who burned the boat.

>> Two, three boat.

>> Did you see who it was?

>> He's old man.

Tony, what you gonna do now, huh?

>> Lieutenant, can you help tow our boat home to Tarpon?

>> Sure son, that's what we're here for.

We'll give you a tow.

>> Take Pop home, Uncle Soc.

>> Hey Tony, Tony, where are you going?

>> They're not gonna get away with it.

>> All alone, what you can do, Tony?

You come with us.

>> You think Pop would take it repeatin'?

I'm gonna find out who did it and I'm gonna get our sponges back.

>> I tell you no, you coming with us, Tony, because your mom and... All right, Tony.

>> You shouldn't be walking around like this.

These people will kill you.

You shouldn't have stayed here, you should've gone home.

>> I'd like to talk to your father.

I've got a feeling he's a reasonable man.

>> Look, he's my father, but he's a Conch, too.

I'm afraid he's just- >> He's a big shot.

Everybody around here looks up to him.

He can make 'em give back our sponges.

Where do you live?

>> Over on Frangipani Street.

Here, I'll take you.

Dad, Tony- >> Come in.

It was a terrible thing about your father.

Would you like something to eat?

>> Oh, no thank you, sir.

I didn't come here to eat.

Mr. Rhys, I came here because I think you're a fair man.

I used to think that Greeks and Conchs, there wasn't much difference between us.

The house we live in is like this house.

The work we do is the same as the work you do.

When one of us dies, you understand, because it's the same as if one of you dies.

But now I'm beginning to wonder.

>> What do you mean?

>> Somebody stole the sponges that his father brought up from the 12 Mile Reef.

They burned his boat.

>> Who did?

>> He doesn't know.

He wants you to help him.

>> What kind of people live here, anyway?

Don't they have any respect for the dead?

>> Who's dead?

>> Didn't you see?

Where were you?

>> Arnold: We were out in the harbor.

>> His father was killed bringing up those sponges.

>> Gwyneth: It's like robbing a dead man.

>> We didn't know.

We saw the boat but we didn't know.

>> You stole the sponges?!

>> We didn't know.

>> You give 'em back!

>> We haven't got 'em to give back.

When Long Arm and the others saw us raiding the boat, they all came.

>> Long Arm?

>> All we got was one string.

When Arnold saw the boat, he thought that, he thought... >> Gwyneth: What did you think, Arnold?

>> Lad.

Where are you going?

>> Tony: I'm going to find Long Arm.

>> Long Arm's the kind that keeps what he gets.

You'll just make more trouble for yourself.

>> If you want to help him, you'll give him the money you got from the Glades.

>> What for?

If we had the sponges, we'd give them back.

>> If it wasn't for you, they wouldn't have raided their boat.

>> He will have an accounting.

Won't he, David?

>> David: Yes, father.

>> Griff?

Griff!

>> Yes, father.

>> Arnold?

Well?

>> He wants to keep what he's got.

>> It doesn't matter anyway.

We're three against one, tomorrow morning, I'll put the money in your hand.

>> Thanks, Mr. Rhys.

>> You don't owe us any thanks.

The money's due to ya.

>> I'll see you in the morning, sir.

(insects chirping) >> If you haven't any place to stay, why don't you sleep here tonight?

>> I'll be okay.

I'll see you in the morning.

Night.

(soft, melancholy music) >> Better not be here tomorrow morning, you hear?

You better clear out.

>> Hi, Arnold.

I'm glad you came back.

It's not the money that's important, it's what you do to yourself, and to Gwyneth.

>> Arnold: Where is she?

>> She's in the house.

Arnold, you've got to remember that you're a man and that Greek is only a boy.

A woman has a soft spot in her heart for a boy.

It's a pity that Gwyneth feels for him, but your jealousy makes something else out of that pity.

Now when the Greek comes tomorrow morning, we'll give him an accounting.

You can hand him the money yourself, Gwyneth will like that.

>> Won't be here tomorrow morning.

We had a little talk, I convinced him he had to go home.

(tense, dramatic orchestral music) Gwyneth?

Gwyneth?

(engine sputtering) (tense, dramatic orchestral music) >> What did he do to you?

What did he do?

>> Burned our boat.

Boat's burned.

>> Arnold: Gwyneth?

(tense, dramatic orchestral music) (grand orchestral music) (soft orchestral music) >> I told you you'd get in trouble trying to help me.

>> I don't care.

They burned your boat, well now you've got a boat.

>> I don't know how to work a hook boat.

>> Oh, it's not hard, you can learn.

>> No, that's no good.

You gotta go deeper to get sponges.

>> You mean with a diving suit and an air pump?

>> Hey.

Sure.

We could haywire the equipment mid-deck.

It'll cloud it a bit, but it'll work.

All we need is one load off the reef and we can fix up the Agley.

>> 12 Mile Reef?

>> Sure, where else, the Glades?

The reef's our only chance.

>> Have you ever been down before?

>> Sure.

Pop taught me how to wear the suit in the bay near Tarpon.

>> Oh Tony, I'm scared.

The reef's too dangerous.

>> I'm scared, too.

You don't know how scared you can be, but you forget.

Gwyneth, you can't ever imagine how beautiful it is down there.

There's all kinds of fish and when they get used to ya, they come right up to your face window and look in.

You can feed 'em just like they were pets.

They even nibble right at your fingers.

And then there's the reef.

Bright coral, like a garden full of flowers.

The deeper you go, the more beautiful it is.

The lights gets dim, like in a church almost.

Gets so you don't wanna come up.

Hey, I almost forgot, we're hungry.

>> Okay, come on.

(Gwyneth squeals) (water splashing) (soft, whimsical orchestral music) (tense, mysterious orchestral music) (soft, whimsical orchestral music) (tense, mysterious orchestral music) (soft orchestral music) (Tony laughs) Scare a person half to death.

>> Oh that was nothin', just a little stingray.

Hey, how long since they used this sail?

>> Hardly ever.

>> Got any fishing line?

We'll patch it.

>> You raise it, Arnold couldn't help seeing it.

>> Not tonight, he won't see us.

We'll wait until dark.

>> Well, there's some line in that chest.

(birds chirping) Eat this, and you'll find out why they calls us Conchs.

>> Hey, that's really good.

Your Mama sure showed you.

>> Oh, she didn't show me.

I never knew my mother.

She died when I was born.

(engine sputtering) (soft orchestral music) >> Hey.

>> Oh, want some more?

>> What's the matter?

>> Nothing.

>> A minute ago, you were thinking something.

What were you thinking?

About your father?

Your brothers?

That when you helped me, you turned against them, is that what you were thinking?

(Gwyneth sobbing) >> I'm sorry.

I'm acting like a baby.

>> Well, that's all you are, you're just a kid.

>> Oh, look who's talking.

>> You know, all I have to do is yell and he'll find you and take you home.

(soft orchestral music) You're going home with me.

>> What about your folks?

Your mother?

Maybe she won't want me.

(soft orchestral music) >> They'll want you, because I want you.

>> I can always get off and Arnold will pick me up.

>> Don't you wanna go home with me?

>> Oh, Tony.

(soft, mysterious orchestral music) >> Tony: Penny, hey, Penny!

>> Tony!

Uncle Soc, it's Tony!

Mama was awfully worried about you.

We all were.

>> Gwyneth, this is my sister, Penny.

>> Hello.

>> Hello.

>> It's about time you come back.

Where you been, we afraid something happened to you.

>> I got beat up.

She brought me home.

You know my Uncle Soc.

Where's Mama?

>> Socrates: She go to cemetery.

>> Every day she goes to the cemetery.

>> Honey, I've gotta go to her.

Take care of her, Penny.

(melancholy music) >> Oh, Tony!

Tony!

(sobbing) >> Oh Mama, you don't belong here.

You're not dead, you're alive.

You don't belong here, you belong home.

>> I wait all my life.

Ever since I married Papa, I wait for him to come home.

And now he's gone.

He'll never come back.

But still I wait.

(sobbing) >> Papa wouldn't like it if he knew you were out here, Mama.

Oh, he'd get mad.

You know how mad he'd get.

He'd want us to go on just like he did, when Pete died.

Like we've got to.

Come on, Mama.

Let's go home.

Hey Uncle Soc, where are they?

>> In there.

>> Hey, Penny?

Penny?

>> Penny: Mama.

Look what Tony brought home.

>> Hey.

You look pretty.

>> Who she is?

>> She's Tony's Conch girl, from Key West.

>> You wanna hear her name, Mama?

Her name is Gwyneth.

>> It's pretty name.

>> Aye, Tony, go ahead.

Tell your Mama what you gonna do.

No wait, I'll tell you.

He's got hook boat.

He's gonna work sponge like the Conch.

Your little boy.

>> We'll bring in one load and we'll fix up the Agley.

>> Hear that, listen how he talk your little boy.

>> How you gonna do this, Tony?

All by yourself?

If Pete was here, if Papa was here, you- >> So I'm here.

So what's the matter with me?

>> Oh, don't be angry Tony.

>> You love my Tony?

>> Yes.

I do.

>> I like you.

You good girl for my Tony.

If you love him, you don't let him do this.

Every time he goes out, you're going to die.

Every night you wait all by yourself like I wait.

You're going to be scared like me.

You see my face?

You see my hair from being scared?

He'll listen to you.

You tell him no.

>> Sure you're scared.

I'm scared too, but you can't be scared all your life.

We've got a boat and we're going to work.

That's what you want, isn't it, Mama, or do you want me to sit around the house hanging my head?

>> He has to do what he wants to do.

Can't you understand?

I can't tell him what to do, nobody can.

>> You might as well make up your mind, Mama.

>> When do we go?

>> Rigging her tomorrow.

Oh, Mama, talk to me, honey.

>> What you want me to say, honey?

>> Well, say something nice honey, like, what have we got to eat, honey?

>> Ah, I forget.

You come long way, huh?

I fix something for you.

You wait, I fix.

>> Wait till you taste my Mama's cookin'.

>> Got no diving suit.

Need new diving suit.

New diving suit need money.

Where are you gonna get money?

Why you look at Sofotes?

He don't lend you smoke from his cigarette.

>> You wanna make a little bet?

Hey, Sofotes?

How much money do we owe you?

>> Don't owe me nothing, Tony.

The boat burn, the debt burn, too.

When your Papa die, I kiss everything goodbye.

>> Where do you get that stuff, the debt is burned?

I owe you a lot of money, I can feel it cutting my neck.

How much?

>> $12,000 maybe.

Little more, little less.

>> $12,000, you hear that, Uncle Soc?

Well, we're gonna pay you back every cent.

What do you think of that?

>> Oh, I'm glad, Tony.

You make me so happy.

But before you pay, you want to borrow a little more, huh?

You need new deck, new engine, new suit.

Forgive me, Tony, I have to say no.

>> Who said anything about money?

>> Oh please, I'm all Greek.

I can smell when someone wants to borrow, huh?

>> We don't want any money.

>> Then what you want?

Eh, don't pay me, I don't want to listen.

>> Look, this isn't gonna cost you a nickel.

All we want is a- >> See, yeah.

>> All we want is diving suit.

You've got plenty.

Just give us one.

>> They don't want nothing.

All they want is little diving suit, that's all they want.

Hey, listen to me.

How I talk, I must be crazy!

They should lock me up!

All right, I give you diving suit!

(cranking) >> That bell works okay.

>> Sofotes, you got a big, kind heart.

Look at the nice suit you give to Tony.

>> What you expect for free?

>> From you, that's what we expect.

Thank you for nothing.

(Sofotes laughing) >> What's so funny?

>> You go in deep water?

You going dive?

You going to work in that boat?

>> Why don't you go count your money?

>> Just like his Papa, he got answer for everything.

>> Socrates: Okay, Tony, we ready.

>> Where have you been?

We're ready to leave.

>> I'm going with you.

>> No, honey.

This is gonna be a rough trip.

>> Gwyneth: Look you don't know how to handle a hook boat.

I do, I can help.

>> You'd be in the way.

>> Mama: Tony, take her.

She'll be with you when you come up.

>> Please, Tony.

(engine sputtering) >> Okay, honey.

Bye, Mama.

Goodbye, Penny.

>> Tony, take Papa's hat, huh?

For good luck?

>> Sure, Mama.

Goodbye.

Bye, Mama.

Bye, Penny.

>> Little Tony.

If he come back with boat full of sponges, we call him Big Tony.

(grand orchestral music) >> Wouldn't have given me the slip if I hadn't run low on gas.

>> You stood up for him, you stood up for the Greek.

>> Yeah, you tried to give him our money.

>> Stole your boat, now he's got your daughter in the Glades.

>> All right!

I was wrong.

Wherever they are, we'll find them.

We'll bring Gwyneth back.

We'll give that kid something he'll never forget.

(mysterious, whimsical orchestral music) >> Tony, it's awfully rough.

Don't you think you oughta wait until the wind dies down?

>> If your folks spot us, we won't get another chance.

>> Is too rough.

Patched suit won't hold.

No good, maybe no gonna work.

>> I'm going down.

>> I'm the captain, I say no.

>> I'm the diver, I say yes.

Come on, finish rigging me.

Come on, will ya?

>> So many thing I wanna tell you, everything I know, if I can only put in your head.

>> I'll have to find out for myself.

(mysterious, whimsical orchestral music) (water splashing) >> Too fast, he go down too fast.

>> Man: Net coming up.

He did it, look, Tony did it.

>> You'll make big bucks.

>> That's enough, he down too low.

Signal to come up.

(mysterious, whimsical music) Why he no come up?

Signal again.

Wait, wait, I do.

(mysterious, whimsical orchestral music) I wonder why he don't come up.

(tense, mysterious orchestral music) >> Feels like hose is caught on something.

>> All right, give more slack, more slack.

(tense, dramatic orchestral music) Why you no come up when I give the signal, huh?

You have trouble?

You all right?

>> I got caught in a cave.

But I got out.

>> Tony, what's that?

It's blood.

>> Well, I guess I must've bumped my head, getting out of the cave.

>> Were you scared?

>> Scared?

I was petrified.

>> I bet.

Tony, what are you doing?

>> I'm ready to go down.

>> See how it is to be diver?

You take rest, I tell you when it's time.

Take rest, go on.

>> Pop was right.

It's scary.

You don't know how scared you can be.

>> Soc, hook boat coming!

(tense, dramatic orchestral music) >> There's your daughter.

Take a look at her, workin' for the Greeks.

She's a good girl.

By now he knows how good she his.

>> David, bring her in close!

Come along side and go aboard.

(gunshot bangs) >> Hit the deck, everybody get down.

>> Griff: Get him, Arnold.

>> Gwyneth: Tony!

>> Man: I'll help you Tony, come on.

>> Thomas: Stay back, Greek.

>> Man: Let him alone.

(water splashing) (tense, dramatic orchestral music) >> Gwyneth: Tony, Arnold's still down there.

Go after him.

(water splashing) >> He's all right.

>> Come along, Gwyneth.

Come along.

>> Are you with us, or with him?

>> Gwyneth: I'm with him.

I'm his wife.

Dad.

>> Oh, don't be mad, Mr. Rhys.

You think she's just a kid, that we're both a couple of kids, but we're not kids anymore.

>> Is no good to fight, no good.

>> Maybe she is married to a Greek, but she's still your daughter.

>> Pulled me in.

Could've let me drown.

>> Oh, what's the matter with you, Dad?

She didn't do so bad.

Look who you got for a son-in-law.

Me, Adonis Petrakis.

I'm a very beautiful young man.

(Greeks laughing) (upbeat orchestral music) >> It is Tony, Mama, it is!

You should see the sponges, Mama, you should see!

>> Yes, this time I'm gonna get paid, huh?

>> Mama, look at Tony.

>> My little Tony.

He's all right.

(grand orchestral music) Hey, it's Kris and Logan, and we're still hiding out down here on the reef.

I'm sorry.

I mean, the basement.

You know, Logan, I think this might be a good time to let everyone know how they can see more of this classic movie.

Sure thing.

You can watch all of these classic movies through the PBS App on your TV or phone.

You can also check out the PBS Fort Wayne website under some cinema to find links to the movies and info about our upcoming classic films.

And you can watch the movies on PBS Fort Wayne's YouTube channel.

Hey, Kris, what do we know about next week's classic movie?

Well, next time around, we have one of my favorites At War with the Army, starring two of my favorites, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.

I am ready for that one.

And be sure to come back and see who the next guest host will be.

Logan.

What do you think “Pirate Stev” might have to say about this movie?

Yeah, I think he would say, Watch your step.

Or you might just have to walk the plank.

I think that sounds about right.

But tune in next week for Subterranean Cinema only on PBS Fort Wayne,