- Captain Bell - H.M.S. Exeter: The Commodore calling a council of Captains at sea. Quite the Nelson touch, eh?
- 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.
- Chief Yeoman Signals, HMS Exeter: A message from the Commodore, sir.
- Captain Bell - H.M.S. Exeter: The Commodore asks, can we reach the Falklands? Reply: "Can reach Plymouth, if ordered."
- Captain Dove - M.S. Africa Shell: If you wouldn't mind telling me, sir, what happened?
- Captain Langsdorff 'Admiral Graff Spee': Yes. We sighted two destroyers and another ship. It wasn't till we closed with them that I realized they were cruisers. By that time, we'd already joined them in battle. I couldn't take my eyes off them. They came at me like destroyers. They kept coming at me. I couldn't believe that they'd dare do this unless they were supported by bigger ships. I thought they were trying to drive me out into the guns of bigger ships.
- Captain Dove - M.S. Africa Shell: Would you mind telling me their names, sir?
- Captain Langsdorff 'Admiral Graff Spee': Yes. The Ajax, the Achilles and the Exeter.
- [on board a badly shot up HMNZS Achilles]
- Gunnery Officer: Captain, sir.
- Capt. Parry, HMNZS Achilles: Yes, guns?
- Gunnery Officer: We've fired nearly 1200 rounds sir. About one third of the arsenal only remaining.
- Capt. Parry, HMNZS Achilles: Thank you. Are you all right?
- Gunnery Officer: A few new ventilation gaps here, sir. A bit draughty, but otherwise all right.
- [Capt. Parry turns to look at gunnery control position full of shell holes]
- 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.
- Commodore Harwood-H.M.S. Ajax: In we go, Woody. To hell with battle instructions. We've got to draw his fire off Exeter. At this range we might as well bombard the beast with snowballs.
- Captain Langsdorff 'Admiral Graff Spee': I'm like a pretty girl. I change my frock, I change my hat. I'm a different girl.
- Captain Langsdorff 'Admiral Graff Spee': There are only two things to remember in a modern naval battle, Captain. Good intelligence from shore; so that you know what to expect when you see it. Good spotting on your own ship; so that you know what you see when you expect it.
- Captain Woodhouse - H.M.S. Ajax: To quote Shakespeare freely: the ides of December are come.
- Commodore Harwood-H.M.S. Ajax: Aye, Caesar, but not gone!
- Captain Bell - H.M.S. Exeter: Well, Bobby, there's only one thing left. If she gives us half a chance, I shall try and ram the beggar.
- Commodore Harwood-H.M.S. Ajax: Be ready to close in and finish her when the light fails. Keep her between us and the afterglow. She'll be silhouetted against the western sky. We'll be in the cover of the dark.
- Commodore Harwood-H.M.S. Ajax: It's a miracle!
- Captain Woodhouse - H.M.S. Ajax: Miracle or not, sir, we can do with her.
- Commodore Harwood-H.M.S. Ajax: How the blazes did she manage to steam 1,000 miles in 35 hours?
- Commodore Harwood-H.M.S. Ajax: And talking of golf, look at my clubs.
- Captain McCall - R.N., British Naval Attache for Buenos Aires: Are those clubs?
- Commodore Harwood-H.M.S. Ajax: Toothpicks. That's all they are now. One shell took all their heads off. Good shooting, eh? On a fairground, it would have won a teddy bear.
- Captain McCall - R.N., British Naval Attache for Buenos Aires: Suppose the Graf Spee does make a break for Buenos Aires. Will you try stop her?
- Commodore Harwood-H.M.S. Ajax: McCall, I was never much good on a horse, but I know the drill. Don't take your fences until you have to.
- Commodore Harwood-H.M.S. Ajax: Don't let the Captain of the Port arrest you for smuggling. Tell him I'll bring him some gin in a few weeks' time.
- Ray Martin: To get shot up wouldn't be very good propaganda. I wonder how Goebbels would explain that?
- Commodore Harwood-H.M.S. Ajax: If we open fire within the River Plate, we'll be accused of violating neutral territory. Think what little Goebbels will make of it.