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Ryan........................Philip Pine
Werden......................Robert Doyle
Nakamura....................Teru Shimada
Wilson......................James Anderson
Hill........................Ed McCready
Johnson.....................Kent Taylor
Brenda......................Francoise Ruggieri

We're all gonna die together--I don't see what difference it makes.--Werden

July 1945. A Japanese warship is in pursuit of an American submarine. The sub rocks from side to side as the ship drops depth charges on it. A crewman panics, urging the sub captain to surrender and take them up, but the captain sends him back to his station, then orders the crew to release oil, making it seem as if the sub has been destroyed. He tells all hands to stay at their stations--no walking and no noise. A Japanese officer, out of place on the American ship, says they're doomed; the captain tells him that if they hadn't stopped to fish him out of the ocean, they wouldn't be in this fix. The attack worsens; the sub sinks to the ocean floor.

Many years later, we see a television broadcast. The announcer gives the date as November 16, 1973; he says that Nelson and the Seaview are now at the submarine base at Pearl Harbor, examining what seems to be an authentic message from the U.S.S. Tetra--a submarine presumed lost in the South Pacific at the end of World War II. Some of the original crew members may still be alive, and if this is so, it would be the most incredible tale of survival in maritime history.

On the Seaview, Nelson points to a bottle, saying that it was picked up in a fisherman's net off the coast of Hawaii. The note appears to be authentic. Crane says he's never heard of the Tetra; Nelson says that's not surprising, since it disappeared so many years ago. There was one survivor, a sonar man named Hill, who blamed the ship's disappearance on the captain, a Lt. Ryan, claiming that he could have saved the sub but didn't. That was 28 years ago, but this note--signed by Lt. Ryan--was dated 140 days ago. Just then they hear a clatter on the stairs, and Sharkey comes down, accompanied by a new crew member, Frank Werden. Nelson welcomes him, saying that he understands that Werden is fully trained in the use of their new sub-terrestrial scanner; it'll be needed on this mission, and he tells Sharkey and Werden to uncrate it and have it aligned. He returns to briefing the crew, and reads the note to them, which asks for help, saying that they can't hold out much longer in the underwater cave they're trapped in, and names the five remaining survivors. When he reads the last sentence--"Signed, James Ryan"--Werden turns with a startled expression, but Sharkey hurries him out of the room.

In the underwater cave, where the survivors have no idea that someone has found their plea for help, life goes on as it has for 28 years. Ryan has been ill recently, and Nakamura suggests that he rest longer, but he insists that he needs to get back to work. He wonders how much deeper the tunnel is now, and is told that it's at least another four feet further, almost as long as the tunnel they dug eight years ago. Wilson isn't optimistic, saying that they should be through the mountain in another 10 years or so, but Ryan says that they have to keep trying.

On the Seaview, Riley enters the engine room and watches Werden working on the scanner. He remarks that the current is doing the watusi; Werden is unamused. Still trying to be friendly, Riley asks if he can put Werden down for the ship's acey-deucey tournament that night, but Werden declines, politely but definitely. "I guess you don't dig cards, huh?" says Riley, and leaves when Werden doesn't respond.

In the control room, Crane takes a seismographic report from the computer. He brings it to Nelson, who notes that it indicates a lot of pressure, like a volcano on the verge of erupting. Crane points out that it's coming from the island they're heading for.

Later, Morton helps Sharkey out of the flying sub hatch; he tells Nelson he's checked it out completely and all systems are go. Nelson and Werden, with the scanner, enter the small craft and soon are on their way, as Crane and Morton watch from the observation nose. The sub takes to the air, Werden too preoccupied to enjoy the trip.

Back in the cave, the survivors feel a tremor. Small rocks rain down on them from above; it's the third time that day, more than they've had all week. Ryan calls the men out of the tunnel. Nakamura is hopeful that the volcano may return to dormancy, but Ryan doesn't think so. Nakamura says that fate hasn't preserved them all these years for nothing more than a fiery death in the bowels of a volcano. He's confident that his people will come. The cave shakes again, more violently; Ryan calls again to the two men in the cave, but a cloud of dust emerges from the cave mouth.

In the flying sub, Nelson and Werden continue their journey. Nelson calls the Seaview to report their progress; they're at cruise altitude and visibility is excellent. Crane, seeing Nelson on the ship's videophone, acknowledges Nelson's report and tells him his image is coming through just fine. Nelson switches the Seaview's view to the flying sub's nose camera, and Crane leaves Morton to monitor it, asking Riley whether there has been any more seismic activity; Riley says no, and Crane comments hopefully that volcanoes are like that--a little activity and then quiet for a hundred years.

The flying sub nears the island, and Nelson asks Werden to see what he can find on the scanner; Werden is preoccupied and Nelson has to ask a second time, sharply, before Werden does so. The ship goes over the island, and Werden comments on the large crater. Nelson says there's bound to be a cave underneath.

In the cave, Ryan and Nakamura look after an injured man; he asks about Bates, the other man in the cave, and Ryan and Nakamura exchange a glance. He's dead. Just then they hear a whistling sound--like an airplane. "My countrymen have come at last," says Nakamura. The men argue--did they really hear the sound or is it just their imagination? Ryan doesn't want the men to get their hopes up; Nakamura says that his is a logical response, but his own optimism tells him to prepare for their rescuers' arrival, and he rushes off. Wilson notes that Nakamura can't even consider that Japan might not have won the war; Ryan replies that if not for that belief, Nakamura would have died years ago. Wilson doesn't buy it--Nakamura wants to live as much as any of them.

Nelson calls the Seaview; they've circled the entire island and Werden's readings indicate the existence of an underwater tunnel leading into the crater. He's going to take the flying sub below and follow it. Crane wants him to wait until the Seaview can get there--the seismographic readings haven't been good--but Nelson says it's Werden a try. The flying sub enters the water and Nelson makes his way through the tunnel as Crane and Morton watch from the Seaview. Nelson says the current is treacherous--he could use the Seaview's electronic stabilizers--and soon the small craft is swept into the tunnel. Suddenly the transmission is cut off and Crane tries to regain contact, with no luck. He tells the engine room to go to full emergency power and head for the island. Morton goes to him, saying that it doesn't look good; Crane says they're probably having trouble with communications, no more than that. He looks back at the darkened screen.

Beneath the island, Wilson is looking after Johnson; he asks if they really heard the sound, and Johnson reassures him that they did. Ryan still refuses to let himself believe it fully; he and Wilson are arguing when Nakamura emerges from a nearby cave, dressed in his spotless white uniform. He's been saving it for twenty-eight years for just such an occasion. He goes to the shore, and Ryan follows, a puzzled look on his face at seeing Nakamura's uniform--he had forgotten they were enemies. Nakamura says he hopes it doesn't make them enemies again. Of course not, says Ryan, they've been through too much for that, and the war must have ended many years ago. Nakamura replies that Ryan must have reconciled himself to the United States' inevitable defeat; Ryan laughs, saying not to start that argument again. Just then, they see bubbles in the surface of the lagoon, and the flying sub rises to the surface. Nakamura tells Ryan he can doubt no longer--his countrymen have come. Ryan replies that whoever's countrymen they are, something is wrong.

On the Seaview, Crane sits in the observation nose watching. Morton comes up and lets him know they haven't heard from Nelson. Crane says they're still a long way from the island; Morton asks him his plans, and Crane says he'll know that when they get there.

In the cave, Wilson and Ryan carry an unconscious Werden from the flying sub while Nelson walks behind. Nakamura hides behind a boulder; he turns--he had never considered this possibility. Nelson checks on Werden, who's had a knock on the head but should come around soon. He and the Americans introduce themselves; Ryan has many questions, but Nelson says the first order of business is to check the flying sub to see if there's any way to repair it and get them all out of there. Ryan asks when the war ended; Nelson replies that about a month after their submarine was sunk, Japan surrendered unconditionally. Nelson asks about the other two men; Ryan replies that Bates is dead and Nakamura is off by himself somewhere. He asks what work the flying sub might need; Nelson says there's a leak that will need to be plugged, and Ryan tells him that there's sealing compound on board the Tetra; they go to get it.

On the Seaview, the engine room calls Crane--the nuclear reactor is overheating badly. Crane asks if they can't give him a few more minutes--they're almost there--and the engine room crew says they can. Riley comes up to Crane--ever since that last big shake, there's been no seismic activity where the island is; he says that might be encouraging. Maybe, says Crane, or maybe it means the island isn't there anymore. Soon, the Seaview approaches the island from beneath, and they find themselves nearing undersea rock formations. Crane orders the collision screen activated and the nose camera turned on.

In the cave, Nakamura enters the flying sub from beneath.

Nelson, now ashore with the repair kit, goes to Werden and asks how he's doing. They managed to get caught up in the same current that swept the Tetra in; as soon as the tide changes and the current goes the other way, they'll be able to leave. The tetra's men had gone to the flying sub; the chocolate bars and canned ham in the sub's emergency stores will be a real banquet for them. Werden mutters that for one of them, it's too good. Johnson calls Nelson over; Werden asks him who that is, and Nelson identifies him and goes over. He says they're going to take him aboard, but first he has some medicine for him. As he's doing so, Ryan comes over--he can't find Nakamura anywhere. Nelson says he hopes he returns before the tide turns; Ryan insists they can't leave him there--without Nakamura, none of them would be alive--but Nelson says that with the volcanic activity, they can't wait. Wilson comes over, happily munching a chocolate bar, and sits next to Werden, saying that it'll take a lot of chocolate to get the fish out of his mouth. Werden asks whether he's Wilson or Ryan; he identifies himself and points to Ryan, offering to introduce him. Werden, rising slowly, says he'll introduce himself. He approaches Ryan, and Nelson tells Ryan who he is; Werden says "I'll give you my hand--my way!" and slaps Ryan across the face. Nelson asks what's going on; Werden says it's very simple--Ryan is his father. Ryan can hardly believe it--his wife is Werden's mother? She's dead, says Werden--died of shame. He turns and leaves, and Ryan says he's insane. Just then, Wilson points to the lagoon--the flying sub is going under. But that was their only way out, says Wilson. Not so, says Nakamura, speaking from a tall rock formation nearby. He doesn't believe what Nelson said--the spirit of his people will never die--he's just proven it, and now they'll all die together--the Americans in defeat, and Nakamura in honor. Another seismic blast rocks the cave.

The Seaview slowly maneuvers through the runnel; the strong current rocks them, and the tunnel narrows ahead. Riley comes up to tell them the seismographic activity has resumed. Crane orders missiles fired ahead to widen the tunnel, and they continue. In the cave, the men pull themselves together after the blast. Ryan approaches Werden, saying that he never knew he had a son. Werden says it doesn't make any difference now, but Ryan says it does to him. Werden says it's a little late to discover a conscience. Ryan wants to know about his wife--he says he deserves that much. Werden agrees--the Tetra was sunk about a month before he was born, and then she got the news that her hero husband was a coward and a murderer. Not even moving to another city or changing her name helped. It killed her. Ryan leaves, and goes to ask about Johnson, who isn't doing well. Nelson asks about Ryan's talk with Werden. Ryan says that Nelson's submarine is on its way--if they get out, then maybe he'll tell the truth about what happened, and then maybe Werden will accept it. Nelson asks about it, and Ryan says he doesn't know the full story, but a man did escape the Tetra--he deserted his post to do so, and Ryan guesses that he told a story to avoid being courtmartialed. Nelson says that if they get out alive, the Navy may reopen the case, if Ryan can prove his story. Angry, Ryan says there's plenty of proof--all the other men will support him if Nelson asks. Nelson smiles, saying that he doesn't think that'll be necessary. Just then, Johnson comes up with Nakamura. Ryan asks why he did it, and Nakamura says that although his country has been defeated, he will not be--he has fought and won the final battle of the war. Furious, Wilson says he ought to kill him, but Nelson and Ryan hold him back while the bedridden Johnson holds out his hand, saying "He's our friend." Wilson calms himself, and Nakamura turns to Johnson, saying "You would stand by me, old friend, after what I have done? Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?" Johnson clasps Nakamura's offered hand and dies.

Nelson goes to Werden, telling him about the act of forgiveness he just saw. Werden says he knows what Nelson is getting at, but it's no use--would you forgive a man who left the brand of coward on his wife and son? Nelson asks if Werden thinks a coward could command a submarine, or survive under these conditions all these years? He leaves, and Werden looks thoughtful.

Nelson goes over to Johnson's bed, where Ryan, Nakamura and Wilson are gathered. Nakamura is now remorseful about his actions; just then Werden points to the lagoon, where Crane and Riley are approaching on a rubber raft. He asks permission to come aboard, and Nelson grants it. The Seaview is 200 yards away. The men start to board the raft when another seismic blast hits. Nakamura refuses to leave, but Ryan won't leave him; Nelson goes to help and between them they carry him to the raft. They reach the Seaview which is shaking from the blast. The shaking stops, and Crane orders all compartments sealed off for repairs. Riley goes to the computer to take one last seismic reading; he nods his head, saying "Scratch one volcano."

The Tetra survivors, with Nelson, walk through the control room to the observation nose. Werden enters, saying that Crane gave him permission to come forward; he wants to talk to his father. He and Ryan go aft. Nakamura looks after him, wistful because he can expect no happiness from a return to a defeated nation. Nelson mentions a Japanese poem he once heard, something about broken apple blossoms. Nakamura remembers it: "In spring the broken apple blossom flutters down, faded and forgotten, to hide its lost beauty in the cold earth, and yet the pathetic apple blossom has a timeless power, and in another spring will rise into a new and stronger tree." Nelson points out that many springs have come and gone since the end of the war. Thoughtfully, Nakamura looks out the window, turns back to Nelson and smiles.