All language subtitles for Águilas heroicas.[Ceiling Zero] (Howard Hawks..1936) HDTV VOEnglish

Thank you.

Calling Payson in plane three.

Federal Airlines.

Newark. Calling Payson in plane three.

Payson. Why don't you answer?

Newark. Go ahead, Payson.

You sure your radio set's okay?

Yes, sir. Be better.

Hold that.

Newark. Calling Eddie Payson in plane
three. What's the weather in Harrisburg?

The weather in Harrisburg is fair.

Broken clouds at 1 ,500 feet. Visibility
20 miles.

What's wrong?

Payson doesn't answer. You can't blame
that on the weather. There's nothing to

blame on anyone yet. Federal Airlines.

Oh, God. Go ahead, say something. Call
me names.

Okay. Hasburg reports their radio range
is inoperative for ten minutes, but it's

on again strong and clear.

I don't know why he can't find the beam.
At least keep him in the airway. He

will if he finds it. Call the caretaker
at emergency field number 12.

Ask him to be served, Payson.

Newark calling Eddie Payson in plane
three. Newark calling Eddie Payson in

three. Payson, acknowledge this message.
Report your position and altitude to

Newark at once.

Newark calling Eddie Payson in plane
three. Payson, why don't you answer?

Newark.

Newark, calling Eddie Payson in plane
three.

Payson, answer Newark.

Newark, calling Eddie Payson in plane
three.

Newark, calling Eddie Payson in plane
three. Go ahead, Payson.

You're positive you're transmitting?

Newark, calling Texas Clark in plane
two.

Radio test, go ahead.

Texas Clark in plane two. Newark coming
in okay.

There's a bill, baby.

Okay, Texas. If Eddie were all right,
he'd have made his half -hour report by

now. Call the division superintendent.

Hold those dice, Jake.

These residents, I want to watch you
roll. No, you don't trust me, huh?

No, not you.

It's for you, Jake. Well, I threw a six
and an ace. That practically puts you

out of business.

Hello. Jake Lee speaking.

We can't contact Eddie Payson.

He left Harrisburg on schedule. He had
to climb into the clouds, flying blind.

Well, is he on his course? No, his heart
reports that he had lost the beam.

Well, call Payson every five minutes.
Phone the caretakers at each emergency

between Harrisburg and Newark.

Notify all the pilots in the air by
radio and all eastern ground stations by

teletech, and I'll be right over.

What's wrong?

Oh, Eddie Payson. He's bringing the mail
in from Pittsburgh, and he doesn't

answer his radio.

I've always been afraid of that kid.

I'll see you later, honey.

Federal Airlines, Newark, calling
Payson. You're playing for the word? No,

nothing. Stop waiting here for news. You
just find it on yourself.

How long has it been?

Eight minutes.

Should be right here.

They're up country with plenty of
houses.

Either crash, bailout, or his radio's
gone sick. He on it.

Go ahead, Texas.

Okay,

Texas. Feel clear. Wind, south three.
Come on in.

Yes,

sir.

Number 8, cancel out. Go on, get going.

What's the matter with the rest of you?

Hello, airlines.

Oh, this is Jake. Are you all right?

Relax, boys.

Okay, that's a relief.

How's the mail? The mail's okay.

There's an eastbound train out of here
in 45 minutes.

Put the mail out and we'll send the
crash truck for you and the wreck.

Where are you?

Okay, Eddie.

Pay some bail out there, Wanamaker.

Wanamaker? Oh, he must have been on a
cook's tour to get that fire off the

airway. Pick him up at a rabbit's farm
two miles east of town and take seven

bucks with you to pay for that phone
call. And get that crash truck rolling.

Yes, sir.

Go take a look at the weather map, Jake.
There's bad news ahead.

That low -pressure area around
Cincinnati is moving northeast.

Yeah.

We got it here late Thursday. Yeah,
that's right. My forecast gives us clear

weather tomorrow with increasing cold
and then heavy fogs followed by high

sleet, and ice.

Go on the ticket office.

All passenger schedules can be canceled
on short notice. We're not going to take

any chances on them.

Mail pilots can fuck the dirt if it gets
unflyable.

Notify Belfont, Cleveland, Columbus, and
Chicago. What are you doing here?

Well, you can't play backgammon alone,
and soft air's not much fun, since I met

you.

Yeah.

Yeah, that's right.

I can't write two -handed games myself.

Texas Park reports his return to North.
Hi, Jake. Hello, Mary.

Hiya, fella. Hi, Jake. Hello, Lotex. I
heard Pace and Jamboree over the radio.

Sure interfered with Amos and Andy. What
happened? Oh, we got lost in the clouds

and hit the silk. He's all right.

He ought to be tickled he's all in one
piece. I wish you were all in one piece.

Hey, do you always meet your husband
when he lands?

Sure, and I sometimes wonder who meets
him at the other end of the run. Oh,

honey, all that I do when I get to
Cleveland is call your mother. You never

my mother.

You'd be surprised what I call her.

Message was deleted.

Thanks.

Here's good news.

Huh?

Yeah.

What's it say?

The prodigal returns.

Dizzy Davis coming home.

Is he coming back here?

When? Why didn't you tell me, Jake? Oh,
I was serving him.

Dizzy Davis. I thought he was still in
Denver. Is he coming back here? Yeah.

He's firing an overhaul job from
Chicago.

This afternoon he had a forced landing
on the side of Cleveland.

Was he hurt? No.

No, he wasn't hurt. Not with my luck.
Oh, now, Dizzy.

Yes, ma 'am? Come on.

Well, where are we going?

We're going home. I want you to get one
last farewell look at it before Dizzy

gets here. Come on.

You know, I could be home for what I
could do to Dizzy Davis.

You know, I may be wrong, but something
tells me she doesn't like Dizzy. Well,

there may be something in what you say.

Honey, I'm certainly glad you like him.
He's a certainly tough one, a fellow,

and a pal his wife told Nick's. I'll
never be tough on you, Jake. No kidding?

No kidding.

Buzz, I'll be at the Browning Park at 3
.30 tomorrow if you want to leave for

me. Yes, sir. Good night. Good night.
Good night, Mrs. Lee. Good night.

Wait a minute.

How are you, Mike?

Hello.

You better shine that plate before you
go.

Oh, sure.

I forgot what I came for.

Doc sent me over here four times.

I'll make it look real pretty, Jake.

You're doing a swell job, fella.

Don't worry too much about it.

Hello, Al. Hello, Jake.

Before I keep you waiting, I want to
know what the bombing plan is about the

transport. There's all the dope.

Oh, Buzz, let me have the latest weather
report.

What do you think of it?

Losing speed 220, that sounds high.

Well, I checked with the test pilot. He
says it'll do better than 220.

You know, the old man likes that Adams
bomber.

Oh, say, listen, that drowning child
make that Adams bomber look like an old

pusher. Well, I'm not thinking about
that right now.

You know, what's on your mind? Buddy.

What's going on? That's about Dizzy
Davis.

Yeah? Why, he's not even here yet, and
he's up to his own tricks already. That

forced landing yesterday was a fake. How
do you know?

Report from Cleveland by telephone.

When the mechanics reached the plane,
they found nothing wrong except the left

magneto block had been pulled loose.

Pulled loose? Of course he did it
himself.

They say he drove back to the plane with
a little deal load of cuties. Thanked

the boys, kissed the girls goodbye, and
got into the air 24 hours late.

That's your story. Why don't you wait
and hear what Dizzy has to say? Oh,

spin a good yard. He always does. I'm
telling you, Jake, Dizzy's a menace and

liability. The best cockeyed pilot on
this airline or any other. But here we

in the newspapers again. Mail plane
forced down. He wasn't carrying the

was carrying an overhaul job east.

You expect the papers to print that? Our
record's good, Jake. We want to keep it

that way.

Well, there's some excuse for pacing.

But there's none at all for Dizzy.

He's never been reliable.

I don't see why you want him here.

Now, sit down.

Now sit back and relax.

I'm going to make a speech. All right,
shoot.

Who made the first night hop over the
Alleghenies?

Dizzy Davis.

And a crummy old D .H. of that, and
there weren't any beacons or lighted

emergency fields in either.

Who kept yelling his head off the radio
until you mugs finally decided to spend

some money on it?

Who went down to Texas and let the dope
on blind flying from Bell Harbor, came

back and flew over the hump with four of
them aground on both sides of it?

Davis.

If they hadn't, we'd still be sitting on
our tails, and there was a cloud in the

sky where the birds don't sing. Before
that, it was standard practice for an

aviator to stick his head out the window
and say, ah, it's raining.

Then he climbed right back into bed
again. I know. I was one of them. Why is

coming back here now? Because he had an
automobile wreck outside of a roadhouse

with a congressman's wife in the car.
Doesn't he know those guys vote on the

AMA? That's only a personal matter. It
has nothing to do with Dizzy's ability.

Dizzy Davidson, 22, calling Newark.

Dizzy Davidson, 22, calling Newark. Hi,
Davis.

Position over Sharon.

Altitude 2 ,000.

Temperature 58.

Visibility unlimited.

Ceiling 3 ,000 feet. Scattered clouds.

Okay. Oh, how I miss you, dear old pal
of mine.

Now, how's Jake?

Hey, tell him I... Regulation number
three.

Pilots will refrain from all personal
conversation while in flight.

Okay. I can read.

Speak of the devil.

The devil is right.

Al, let me tell you something.

Give me one of those, will you?

Sure.

Dizzy and Tex Clark and I are the only
old -timers left in this division.

We were all in the war together.

I'll never forget, Dizzy was the kid of
the outfit and I taught him how to fly.

Three weeks later, he was teaching me.

That's pure sentiment, Jake. I'm not
interested in past history.

We're running a business. If the wartime
pilots don't fit today's standards,

they're through.

Those are the men who make your airways.
We appreciate that. So do they. I can't

help that. You compare Davis to the type
of youngster we're getting today.

They're college men, educated for the
job, technically expert.

They'll never pull anything wild, and
they can fly, too.

Al, get this.

I hire and fire the pilots on this
division.

And as long as I've got a job, Dizzy
Davis is going to have one.

Okay, Jake.

But the next slip Dizzy makes... How he
goes, even if you have to go with him.

Thanks.

No, we're calling Davis in 22.

No, we're calling Davis in 22.

Routine check and position report.

Call ahead, Davis.

I can't give you anything but love,
honey baby.

Okay, 22.

Lawson in plane six to Newark. Okay,
Lawson.

Coming in to land.

Wait a minute.

Student at first solo heading in. Better
take another turn around the field.

I'll just line that training job.

Tommy? You're crazy. There's only one in
it. Sure, first solo.

Don't fool it. Can you beat that kid?

What do you want? Just got where the
government inspectors will be here in an

hour. Regular quarterly check. Hanging
for the advance notice? We don't need no

notice. We're ready. That's what you
think.

You're like an angel. Well, you sure
looked the part.

You know, I bet if I jumped and wiggled
my arms real hard, I could stay up

there. Well, if you do that, it's your
own responsibility.

All I can do is teach you to fly. Am I
all right?

Oh, perfect. Except that last landing. I
jumped in a little too fast.

Hey, Jake!

Jake, I fell in the loop for the first
time. I'm so old. Hey, you're getting

familiar with the boss, aren't you? Oh,
Jake, don't be so dignified.

Aren't you proud of me? Sure, I'm proud
of you. But listen, don't try and be the

snappiest solo bird on the field. Try
and be the oldest.

Your grandchildren will appreciate it.
Don't worry. I won't go home while

out. Hey, take it easy. There's the
boyfriend.

Hey! Hey!

Hey, I made it. I made it.
Congratulations.

I knew you'd do it. Are you scared?

Scared? I'll say I was.

I remember the first time I soloed. Oh,
you're not going to go back that far,

are you?

Well, it looks like I can strike that
from the list of registered aircraft.

I've already done that. Where's Eddie
Pacey? He dropped off the truck by your

office. Well, only one of the rules is
about wearing caps around here.

They look better that way.

Forty miles over a bumpy road. The way
my tail feels, I never want to sit down

again. If that's true, maybe you'll be
some use around here.

2 .30, barometer 2990, wind northwest
10, WDR in Chicago.

WWGR network, okay.

All right, Eddie, sit down.

Thanks, Jake, but I... Come on, what's
the story?

Well, I was flying blind on the north
leg of the Harrisburg beam.

Couldn't see anything but my instrument
board. Not even the wing tips.

Then they turned the beam off.

It was only off for ten minutes.

I know, but I couldn't pick it up again.

You've got a map, a pencil and paper, a
clock and a compass. You ought to be

able to take care of your course.

I tried that, but with fog all around
me, I... Oh, Eddie.

This is purely a case of pilot and
cockpit trouble.

You've got jittery flying blind.

You wandered away from the beam and you
got lost. You were afraid to fly under

the fog, prepared to hit the mountains.

Then you got panicky and bailed out ten
miles north of the airway with a 1 ,500

-foot clear ceiling below the clouds. Is
that right?

I guess that's right.

But all the time, some little voice
inside kept saying, You're just

Eddie. You don't know where you are.

Yeah.

Yeah, and the sky's a pretty lonesome
place when it gets fogged over.

But a pilot's supposed to use his head
and forget that voice.

I'm not afraid, Jake.

Really, I'm not.

I tried to bring the mail through.

Whenever the weather makes the pilot,
instead of him looking at the weather,

he's finished.

The first time makes the second time
easier.

And the first thing he knows, he's in
trouble when the weather is perfect.

Jake, all my life I've been working to
be a pilot.

Model planes, school, college.

Give me another chance, will you?

Eddie, ever since the first day we hired
you as a rookie, all the pilots in the

plume would have had to make a report on
you.

Now, you've seen the forms we use, and
there's a line that reads, reaction to

emergencies. That line could just as
well read nerve or courage or anything

want to call it. Now, your reports have
all been good, except for that one line.

And there, most of the time, there's a
question mark.

Last night, you answered those
questions.

Cost us a $40 ,000 airplane.

I've got your final check in the office.

Well, I... I guess there's nothing more
to say. That's the work.

You've been mighty square about it,
Jake.

So long.

So long.

Tough break for the kid.

In all the times I'd gladly give up this
swivel chair job to the Thickin'

Sisters. Yeah.

Have you got something else to do
besides stand there and moan? No, sir.

sir.

Okay,

22.

Okay,

22.

Well, home again.

In order to see a pair of strange feet,
large and very flat. And they belong to

Joe Allen, Department of Commerce
inspector.

Oh, hello.

How are you, Mr. Allen? Pleased to meet
you. My name's Davis.

Yes, I know.

That was a very fancy landing.

You mean this one?

You know what I mean.

The next one like it will cost you a
suspension.

Uh -huh, wrong again.

There's not going to be any next one.
I'm not kidding.

If you want to fly around here, you
better watch your step.

Well, I've never had much fun doing
that, Mr. Allen, but... However, I'll

Let me see your pilot's license.

Pilot's license? There we are.

You'll notice I made application for
renewal.

Yeah, I see you've applied for a waiver
for physical defect. What is it?

Skippy Pump, six years old.

Oh, uh, tell me, how is Washington on us
old cripples these days? Tough.

They're holding up licenses they used to
renew without batting an eye.

Ah.

You write a very lovely hand, Joseph.

I suppose you're going to turn me in.

I got my job to do.

But I'm no stool pigeon.

You get away with that fancy landing
this time. Thank you.

Get my notes about inspecting, Jake?
Everything's all set for you. Good.

You're as lucky as ever, you look.

Goldie, my luggage.

You know, Diz, that Bureau of Commerce
is getting awful tough lately. I

tangle with that Joe Allen if I were
you. Don't worry about that Joe Allen.

We'll take care of him. Your bag sure
got a swell gargle. Didn't I tell you

about that cat?

Where that cat went?

How's Mary?

Oh, she's fine. She's coming over to
pick us up pretty soon. Oh, that's

And how's your matrimony, Tex?

Still moaning along?

On a clear day I can hear in Cleveland.

Send me your love?

Sure. I'll bet she did.

In a hand -crocheted bottle of arsenic.
Come on, I want to see Paz. I haven't

seen him in years.

Hiya, Paz.

Welcome home.

Hey, kid, you want to meet a real Paz?
Around here? I'd be delighted. Come on.

Hey, Paz, I want you to meet somebody.

Thomas Dizzy Davis. How are you?

I'm Dizzy Davis.

Yes, I know.

How'd you know?

Oh, Tex happened to mention it when he
introduced us.

Well, Tex, I want to thank you from the
bottom of my heart. Aw, shucks, that was

nothing. Anybody in my place would have
done the same thing. There you go, same

old generous Tex.

Say, what is this, a little?

Just sold it a few minutes ago. Tex is
teaching me to fly.

Yep, I'm a daddy.

Me, huh?

Goodbye, Daddy.

Goodbye. Say, mister, I thought I was
pretty good until I saw you come in.

your landing was a honey. You like it?
Wish I could fly like that.

Well, how about letting me give you a
lesson or two?

Oh, wouldn't you?

I can't think of anything I'd rather do.

Keep your fingers crossed. He'll give
you that Davis runaround.

I've heard of that maneuver.

Oh, has it good points?

Go ahead, Blandy.

Okay,

Blandy. Say, why don't you throw away
that monkey wrench? Anything for a pal.

Number 11, inspected. Express, mail, and
passenger manifest checked. Ready to

take off. Right. Any special
instructions? Yes, keep your eye on the

The map's going to change fast in the
next couple of days. I want you to pass

the media service. Pilot Lawson, Dizzy
Davis.

Hello. Welcome back to New York. Thank
you. Lawson's my right -hand man. He's

charge of all test work, overhaul, and
motor replacements.

Must be a good fella. Have all that
responsibility.

Sure, he keeps his mind on his job.

He's developing that new de -icer.

Keeps the ice from forming on the wings.

Roll it with him, will you?

When you have time.

Yeah, yeah.

How about tomorrow?

Hmm? I say, how about tomorrow?

Tomorrow?

Oh, uh, tomorrow. Let's see. Tomorrow.

Oh, uh, tell me.

What are we doing tomorrow?

We?

Yeah, I mean, uh, what are you doing
tomorrow?

Ask me the day after tomorrow.

Never thought I'd miss to see the day.

Izzy Davis was a good guy when he had
it.

You underestimate me, boys.

That was just round one. We'll give her
that one.

Izzy, a lady wants a conversation with
you.

Take it over here, Romeo.

Hold the line.

Hello?

Hello?

Your name is Bertie. That's the first
clue.

How'd you find out I was here? It was in
the papers, my boy. It was in the

papers. Can Bertie read?

Oh, Dizzy, when you left the way you
did, you broke my heart.

You said you were going to the drugstore
for a cigar.

No, I didn't see you anymore.

Why, Bertie, that's all over. That's
ended.

Oh, but it isn't over, Dizzy.

My lawyer said it wasn't.

Your lawyer?

Preacher, what promise?

Gone is romance.

Now, listen, Bertie, after a year, a
thing like that's outlawed.

You can write it off your income tax.

Set it straight for Atlanta.

What? Oh, yes, suddenly you can, dear.
That's a deductible loss.

Obsolescence, depreciation. Shut up.

Oh, no, no, not you, Donna, no.

I didn't make you any promises.

We had a grand time, but really there
was nothing serious about it. No, we

only clowning, Bertie.

Oh, no, no.

No, I'm all alone. That was just the
radio, the loudspeaker.

Oh, now, what's the point of doing all
that?

You know, we could have a grand time
here if you just do the smart thing and

stop all this lawyer business.

Oh, now, sweetheart, you know you've
always been a three -alarm fire with me.

Well, certainly, if you just get your
lawyer to call off his dogs.

Will you shut up?

Huh?

Oh, no, no, really, really, I couldn't.
I promised Mr. Lee I'd have dinner with

some of the directors.

Oh, we could cancel that. We could not.

Huh?

Where are you living, darling?

Lamartha, Washington.

Oh, I couldn't get in there again. Why
not? Oh, fine. Funny fellow. Shut up,

will you?

Hmm? Well, this is the way it's going to
be done. Look, I'm going to be in

Cleveland the next three days, and then
the next weekend we'll have a swell

party. Oh, but maybe you won't come back
from Cleveland.

Why, sure. You know I wouldn't lie to
you. Not much.

Of course not.

What? That's right, sweet. Yes.

All right. Bye -bye, darling. Yeah, I'll
call you.

Goodbye.

Lawyers. Got to get out of here. Yes, I
know, but you don't know how right you

are. You fly the noon plane west
tomorrow, come back the next day, two

than the regular schedule.

Yeah, here we go. Right back on the old
merry -go -round.

Dizzy Davis, the flying postman.

Oh, Jack's there. Do you know any new
numbers in Cleveland?

His lawyer's there, too, you know.

Jack Hewitt sports a good -looking
Cleveland redhead. Maybe you could get

go ahead.

Yeah. Now be sure to get the half that
eats.

Listen, you lug.

What's the dope on that horse landing
yesterday?

No, I've missed you at all. I've got a
little cock of spaniel barks just the

you do. You heard me. What's the dope on
that force landing?

Is this official?

Well, no. Not if you don't want it to
be. Well, here it is.

I'm born in a jacket about a thousand
feet when a swell chateau passes under

left wing.

Biggest place you ever saw.

Beautiful lawns and gravel driveways and
a big swimming pool. Yeah, yeah, I

know. Well, in the pool are four
beautiful dames. Four.

Four. Long hair.

Couldn't tell at that altitude.

Then the unexpected happened.

A magneto block got loose.

Yeah.

The magneto block got loose. You got
loose, and now Stone's loose, and he

all about it.

Who told him? I don't know. He got the
report in Cleveland. He guessed the

He wanted to fire you.

Fire me?

Since when can you fire anybody? He runs
the airline.

Hey, maybe Boston doesn't want it.

I'd quit before I let a guy like that
fire me. Yeah?

Well, the guy, they don't call you a
bluff.

And certainly, now that you're here,
where are you going to stay?

Uh, Tex asked me to stop at his place.

Oh, I see.

I was just telling Dick you asked me to
stop at your place.

Oh, yeah.

Sure.

Oh, then everything's all settled now.
Sure.

I guess I'd better call Lou.

Ask her what she's going to have for
dinner.

Yeah. You look so worried about Tex.
Thought you told me you wore the pants

your home.

Are you a dog or will I do?

Hello, Lou.

This is Tex, your husband.

Look, honey, Dizzy's here.

No, no, nothing like that. We haven't
even had a drink of water.

She sends you her best, dear.

Yeah, look, honey, I thought until Dizzy
was permanently settled that maybe we

could put him up.

Be firm now, Texas. Remember, you're the
man of the house.

Well, couldn't you put the puppies off
the sleeping porch?

Yes, and into the bathtub, I suppose.

No, I don't expect him to sleep with us.

Couldn't we put a cart in the hole?

Well, there's the sofa and the living
room. Oh, you're doing fine.

Oh, why didn't you tell me your mother
was coming?

Of course he couldn't do that.

I could try.

All right, honey.

All right, I'll be there when I get
there. Bye, Lou.

Dizzy, Lou says her mother's coming home
from Cleveland.

I'm sorry.

I'll bet you are.

Well, that's all right, Tex. Forget it.

I'll get a little place of my own you
can come and live with me.

Wouldn't be bad.

That's Mike.

Mike!

Mike, I'm glad to see you.

I haven't laid eyes on you in years.

You're the only guy in the office
crazier than I was.

Mike, you look... You want something?

Don't you remember me, Mike?

Dizzy?

Dizzy? Yeah.

Dizzy Davis.

Dizzy Davis.

51 Squadron, Kelly Field.

Kelly Field.

Oh, yeah.

I remember you.

You were a pilot.

I still am.

You've been away.

Yes, Mike.

I was out west for a while.

Hmm.

I thought I hadn't seen you around.

Got by the house sometime.

I got some mighty good gin.

All right, Mike, I will.

I make it myself.

I shine that plate, Jake. It looks real
good.

That's swell, Mike. Thanks.

Jake thinks that the front door don't
look right.

People won't come here.

Ted, you can't do that to him.

Mike's a pilot. Mike was a pilot. What
happened to him? He smacked a tree in

fork. I thought you'd heard about it.
No, I didn't hear anything about it.

practically every bone in his body.

I said he said the right thing to him
right off the bat. Mike doesn't know

it's all about.

Well, can't something be done for him?
Dizzy's had the best in the country. We

even sent him to the mails.

Holy cow.

Oh,

polishing brass door knobs.

Yeah, and he doesn't do that very well.

He's got a wife and a couple of kids. We
can't let him starve.

And like a dope, I thought it was a gag.

Tex here has been looking after his
family. Yeah, with your help.

Here.

Here, Tex, if you need any more, just
holler. Oh, they don't need all of this.

Oh, forget it.

We'll have to make a man sick inside.

Why don't those mitts in New York do
something about a pension for him? Yes,

takes money to start a pension. We're
trying to work something out.

It takes money to pensions.

To drive a man over, he's not always red
tape.

Come on, I need a drink. How about you?
Yeah, me too. How about you? You still

open? Right open. I'll phone Mary. We'll
have dinner over there. We'll all meet

over there. Good. How about you? I
promised Lou I'd come over. Well, call

have her come over.

I don't think she could come. Well, you
can come for a couple of drinks anyway.

Two drinks and I won't get home at all.
That's fine.

Good night, John Paul. Good night,
Larry. Hello, Mary.

Good night. Listen, we're all going to
have dinner over at Mama Jeannie's.

we'll meet over there right away.

There's my dinner, partner.

Second round coming up.

How's the betting?

Tommy, all the way. Uh -huh. How about
you?

Five will get you ten.

I see. All right. If I lose, you all eat
on me.

Hello, Tommy.

Hello.

I've come to apologize.

For what?

For acting like a chump.

You put me in my place, but I know I
deserved it.

I didn't expect this.

Why not?

Because I... Forget it. No, no, no. I
don't want you to pass it off that way.

I know I got off on the wrong foot, but
I'd like to begin all over again and

show you what the ride is like.

And how are you going to do that?

Well, uh... We're all going over to Mama
Jeannie's for something to eat.

Will you join us?

I promise to behave myself.

Besides, you've got to eat someplace,
don't you?

Yes. Uh -huh.

Listen, I proved to you that I know
which knife to use and... It'll always

memory post.

No, Dizzy.

This is probably just another good line.

Oh, still suspicious?

Yes.

But hungry.

Good.

Rawson in camp manure.

Go ahead, Rawson.

Position over Martin's Creek.

Dinner is served.

Altitude 6 ,000.

Scattered clouds.

Visibility 5 miles.

Go ahead.

Okay, Ross.

Well, Tex, it's a great reunion. Oh,
swell.

Only I wonder what Lou's going to say
when I get home. Oh, you've got to learn

to kick it around. Look at Dizzy. He's
having a great time.

How you doing, Annie? You're here,
aren't you?

Well, now, I'm not going to get off a
sore if I find it out. Now, that kind of

talk makes me feel good. How long have
you been married now?

Two years.

Want to see the scars?

Lou and I have been married five.

Oh, no, no, don't get me wrong. Lou's a
good sport, only she just doesn't like

Dizzy. Says he gets me into bad habits.

I can't give an argument about that.

You can, and does.

Don't worry, I'll spare it for you. Ah,
but you can't spare it until tomorrow.

I've got to see her tonight.

Well, that's my conversation.

What's the matter? Can't you take it?
Say, man, I can take it. So where do you

think I am?

I'm only 34.

It's an awful lot when you're 19.

I mean, 34 and 19 is no age at all.

Say, do you realize when you're 34, I'll
be only 49?

What of it?

Well, listen, if you think that when I'm
49, I'm going to be dancing with an old

hank of 34, you're crazy.

Do you realize that when I'm 49, you'll
be 60, though?

Well, now, look here. When you're 49,
you'll be 49 in a wheelchair.

I'll be out dancing. Yeah? With who?

I don't want to know. She's not born
yet.

No, Joseph.

I am glad I came.

Oh, now, wait a minute, wait a minute.
You can't do that to me.

You've got to realize anything you do
has its consequences.

You do that again, you're going to be
kissed.

You mean, if I do that again, I'll be
kissed?

Busted.

What's the matter?

Mother told me when I was tempted to do
something to count to ten.

Five, six, can you wait?

Wait, I'll help you. Start all over
again.

How? A two, a three, a five, a six, a
seven, an eight. And then, what comes

after nine?

A me.

How about dancing this with your boss?

All right.

Mary, Mary, Mary, Mary, Mary. You better
watch that husband of yours.

Look at him dancing out with that young
girl over there.

The old reprobate.

Ought to be ashamed of himself.

Well, I don't worry about him.

Well, stranger, how does it seem to be
back east?

Oh, wonderful, stranger, wonderful.

Nothing out there but mountains and
cows.

And, uh, congressman's wives?

Oh, uh, there's nothing out at all.

I, uh, I didn't know the girl's name.

Uh -huh.

Listen, Dizzy, I don't want to preach.

Tommy's young.

She's only 19.

What happened?

Nothing.

When you're only 19, it's so easy to
fall for a handsome aviator and get your

heart broken into tiny pieces.

That never happens.

It does sometimes.

I remember reading about a case like
that.

Well, uh... That girl that you were
reading about turned out all right,

she? She turned out all right.

She was lucky.

She met a swell guy right after that and
married him.

I was very glad to hear that.

Very glad.

She's had two of the happiest years in
her life.

You see, Dizzy, Jake didn't ask me about
anything that happened before.

He did?

I'd have told him.

Without mentioning any names.

He wouldn't make things any better than
break up a friendship like yours and

Jake's, would he? No, no.

No, no.

Certainly wouldn't.

Hello. Hi.

How is that, Tommy? Well, I didn't know
you could rumble. Rumble? Is that what I

was doing? What do you think of that,
Mary? I think it's getting late, Jake.

Where are you going?

Hey, hey, you're not going home already,
are you? You're getting pretty late,

Tex. Oh, look what I've got.

Now, Tex, what are you going to do with
that bottle? Well, as soon as it's

empty, I'm going to take it home and
make a lamp out of it.

Well, we're going. Say, you better get
some shut -eye, too, fella. Don't be

silly. We'll get plenty right after
we're dead. Tommy and I are staying a

Oh, all right. Good night, Tex. Good
night, Jake.

Good night, Tex.

Good night, Dizzy.

Tex, I'm not going.

Who is?

You are.

Oh, no, no. I'm going to stick around
for a little while.

Don't be silly.

We don't want to make Lou any sore than
she is, do we? Oh, for once I'm going to

show Lou that she's the one that wears
the pants in this family. Yes, sir.

Someone from Mr. Dex?

Me?

Yes, you.

A lady?

Your wife?

Excuse me.

I'll be right back.

It reminds me.

Where are you going?

I gotta see about pulling two other
fellas.

Well, don't be long.

You've got some good counting to look
forward to.

Hello, Lou.

Yes, yes, yes. I'm here.

Hmm?

Oh, now, now, listen, Lou. I ain't
hardly had a drop.

All right.

Now, now, you listen to me, Lou. I'm
gonna... Hmm?

Yeah, Lou.

I'm coming right home.

Goodbye, Lou.

Well, that couldn't have been Lou.

Oh, yes.

Well, she hardly said anything.

Yes, she did. She said, come home now or
never.

Well, that simplifies everything,
doesn't it?

Now you don't have to go home at all.

No. Mr. Disney, when I'm ready to go
with you tonight, she told me to say

goodnight for her.

Goodnight? Yes, goodnight.

Where'd she go?

She went home with Mr. and Mrs. Lee.

Ah.

Oh, no, no.

What are you doing later?

Who?

Me? Oh,

Mr. Peezy.

Oh, no, this boy.

She thinks I'm kidding.

Good morning. Good morning.

For you.

Chinese children have learned to count
those things for centuries. So that

should get you all the way up to ten.
I'll start working on it right away.

idea. Now listen, tell me something.

Why did you run out on me like that last
night?

Don't you know?

I haven't the remotest idea.

The only thing I know is that I was
never so humiliated in all my life. I

home and I... I cried all night.

I knew it wasn't anything I could have
said or done, so naturally I just came

the conclusion that... Well, you... You
misunderstood me.

There you go.

I understood everything.

I'll tell you what it was.

Tell me.

You see, you began to look so
attractive.

Well, you know, the way those soft
lights flatter you when you're 35.

34. No, right, 34.

Don't be so sensitive.

You've got to learn to grow gracefully.

Anyway, you began to look so attractive
to me.

My heart kept going pit -a -pat.

And I finally got a hold of myself and
said, Tony, this is all right, but how

does he look in the morning?

Now that it's morning.

I look 102.

All right. I see where we start all over
again. Do you mind?

No. How?

Let's see.

How about a flying lesson this
afternoon?

Flying? Anytime you say.

All right. On one condition.

That you have dinner with me afterward.

Say, you take the Cleveland Mail out in
an hour.

Oh, don't you worry about that. I can
get text, take my run.

Jake will never stand for that.

He said the planes go on schedule and so
do the planets.

Well, you forget about it. You be here.

I'll take care of the rest. I'll be
here.

But you'll never get away with it.

It's a cute outfit.

Hi,

Dave. Hello, Tex.

Hey, Tex.

Oh.

Hey, what's the matter?

Nothing, nothing.

I'll be all right in a minute. What is
it, that bum tick of yours? Yeah. Uh

-huh. Yeah, too much last night. Yeah,
yeah. You're getting old. You can't take

it. Yeah.

Say, wait a minute. Do you hear people
out there saying I'm getting old?

I'd better get a doctor. No, don't get a
doctor.

I've got to make that Cleveland run. Oh,
you can't go to Cleveland feeling like

this. Oh, yes, I can. I've done it
before and I can do it again. You can't

it, dear. Yes, yes.

That male has to go out. Oh, now,
listen. Don't worry about your run. I'll

it for you. No, no, he couldn't. We'll
get sore.

That's right. After last night, I...
I'll go, dears.

I'll go.

You think we're all right, Tex? Oh,
sure, it will.

I'm afraid to go home anyway.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, thanks, Tex. Yeah. Thanks. Thanks so
much.

Thanks. Take it easy. I

guess

I'll go to Cleveland.

Cleveland, special weather, 9 p .m.

Ceiling zero, visibility zero, and
squall.

Temperature 30, dew point 30.

Wind west 2, barometer 2980.

Cleveland to Chicago.

Help on weather.

Go ahead.

Chicago to understand.

Okay, Cleveland.

Here it is.

Oh, it's so thick you can cut it in
chunks.

Look at those seagulls.

They've been in this flying racket so
long they've got sense. They're walking

the ground.

Tax block and plane 9, follow Newark.

Go ahead, Texas.

Six o 'clock to Newark, eastbound.

Can't see my hand on instruments.

East lake of Belmont Range.

Compass 101.

Altitude 10 ,000.

Ceiling here is still zero. No
improvement.

That's going to see how high the top is.

What's the top of the clouds, Texas?

Six thousand.

Started taking on ice. It's been down
again.

Okay, Texas.

I'll go up and feel for it again if you
say so.

Oh, never mind. Skip it.

Stay where you are, Texas.

Okay, Newark.

Can't take a chance with those
passengers. That step will turn to sleep

morning. Fives. Yes, sir. Notify all
stations, division superintendents,

but the mail leaves Newark's weather
clear.

Yes, sir.

Newark, calling all Federal Airlines
stations.

Newark, calling all Federal Airlines
stations.

Newark, closed in.

Bellefont, closed in.

Newark to Bellefont, zero, zero.

Cancel all passenger traffic east of
Cleveland. Train all passengers.

Caution, all male pilots. That is all.

That sure bumped into a sweet trip this
time. Yeah.

Well, does he ought to be glad he's on
the sick list?

Yeah.

Cell phone.

Testing.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven,
eight, eight,

seven. Didn't make it. Eight. Okay, go
on.

Well, after what we went through this
afternoon, I'm not worried about my

counting. I'm satisfied I can breathe.

Oh, listen, by the way, forget this.

I don't want to ever hear of your trying
any little thing that I did until you

can land a ship on a dime from any
position with a dead motor. Got it?

I promise. Good.

You'll be able to like it longer.

Oh, I love it.

Dizzy, what is it that makes flying what
it is?

Is it thrills or... I think it's because
when you're up there, you're absolutely

on your own. It's strictly a one -man
show.

The world is down there under your
wings.

Nobody can touch you. There isn't
anything anybody can do.

What am I doing? Making a speech?

Oh, I don't know. I don't know what it
is.

One thing I do know is that I'd rather
be a male pilot than king.

But tell me, Dizzy, do you ever get
worried when it's foggy like this?

Oh, yes, always.

Whenever I get in a jam and I'm lucky
enough to figure a way out, get my feet

the ground again, I always say, brother,
the birds can have it.

WWGR, Newark, Newark, ceiling zero,
visibility zero, dense fog, temperature

dew point 38. I had no idea a tech's
going to run at this time, brother. You

took my run.

I'd rather be up there myself.

Come on, let's run over to the office to
see how she's making out, huh?

Oh, Mama. Mama, here.

Here, Mama.

Mama, put that on the clock, huh?

On the clock?

What do you mean?

Never any money on the clock. On the
clock.

On the clock. Clock, clock, clock,
clock.

Stone Center will hit here about noon
tomorrow.

The weather won't clear till that high
over Omaha moves east and shoves the

out to sea. What's that wind shift line?
I'm making a balloon run every hour.

Can that stuff save the balloon? Yes.
What do you want? The new de -ices are

installed in number six. Good, we'll be
able to test them before long. Yeah, if

they work the boys and let the weather
leak, that's something. That's

practically everything.

Take clock and plane nine, calling
Newark. Go ahead, Texas.

Take clock to Newark, eastbound.

Can't see my hand on instrument.

East leg, belt want range.

Compass, 101.

Out to 10 ,000.

Temperature 46.

Give no up weather. Go ahead.

Ceiling here is still zero. Dense fog.
No improvement. That is all.

Texas is going to have a sweet time
smelling his way into that field.

Oh, the radio beam will bring him right
over the hangars and you can talk him

down. Not the ease of which you stand
there and fly our planes amazes me. Yes,

sir. Anything else? Don't, sir. Then get
going. Yes, sir.

Oh, hello, hello.

How's it look?

How do you think it looks? Pretty bad.
Bud.

Oh, Tommy, all passenger flights are
canceled. See the boys in the hangar.

those lunches. Thank you.

Hello, boys. How are you?

Why, hello, Dizzy. How are you? It's
nice to see you back. How about a cigar?

No, thanks.

Jake? No, thank you. Say, I've got some
stuff you'll like. I ran them some rare

old bourbon. Send a few bottles over to
the house.

Not for you, too, Dizzy.

They're lovely. Lovely.

What do I have to do to repay these
kindnesses? Not a thing. Of course, if

happen to fly that Adams bomber and like
it, just say so.

If we don't like it, do we give the
whiskey back? Oh, I'm not trying to

you. Say, I read about Payson's crash
and thought you might be in the market

some new equipment. We are, very much
so. Well, you know, we're converting

Adams twin -engine bomber into a
passenger ship.

Looks beautiful on the drawing board. I
know, but they don't fly on drawing

boards.

That Adams bomber's good enough for the
Army. They're flying 200 of them. We're

not doing any bombing nowadays. We're
hauling mail, express, and passengers.

You're wasting your time and cigars.

I saw that Browning transport the other
day, and it's the finest plane in the

world. That's a broad segment. This is a
220 against 160 for your job. Who says

so? I did. Lands at 55 with the wing
flaps down. That's impossible.

It is not. Take off with one motor and a
full load. Can the Adams bomber do

that?

Well, can it?

Can't not.

You boys seem to be prejudiced against
our product. We've got a good, fast,

safe, comfortable airplane.

Please don't make a decision until
you've flown our ship. No, we'll give

fair trial.

Well, that's all I can ask.

And say, Jake, our connections in
Washington are getting better and

might be able to do you some good down
there.

Well... No hard feelings.

Not while the bourbon lasts.

So long.

Oh, I like that Fred Adams.

He's about as subtle as a push in the
mouth.

He's going to do things for us down in
Washington.

All we want them to do is leave us
alone.

Oh, Des, did you find an apartment?

Oh, yes, I've got a little place down
the street.

It's just big enough to throw him a hat
and a few brawls and things, you know.

Say, what did the doctor say about that
hat of yours?

Oh, yeah, that ravioli. Isn't it funny
that Mama Jeannie's ravioli should do

that to me?

Say, listen, you do want to take care of
yourself. Why don't you go on a diet?

You're not as young as you used to be,
young fella.

All right, Pop.

Try to text again. If you get any news,
I'll be in the hangar. Yes, sir.

Nord, calling Texas Clark in plane nine.

Texas Clark in plane nine.

Report your position and altitude.

No change.

Still flying blind on north range.

Altitude 8 ,000. Visibility zero.

What's feeling at north now?

Ceiling air is still zero. Dense fog.

Okay, north.

Texas radio sounds sour.

Well, tell him. He's no mind reader.

North calling Texas Clark.

Texas Clark, go ahead.

Check your radio.

Transmission is blurred.

Call you back in a few minutes.

Go ahead.

Living. Hmm?

Would Tex be in a bad spot tonight if
his radio went dead?

Oh, Tex is an old hand at this. He'd
figure some way out.

Well, what do you do when you're flying
blind and your radio doesn't work?

Just sit there and sweat.

And look for a hallway you can see the
ground.

If you find it, down you come.

And if you don't?

Well, it's a pilot's job to bring the
ship down.

But if things get too tough, he goes
over the side.

Gosh, I'd be scared stiff.

Hmm? I'd be scared.

Surely any pilot that isn't.

Oh, he's got 20 minutes yet.

So don't you think about anything but
flying?

When did the bug first bite you?

Do you remember the day Linda came back
from Paris?

Yeah, I do, but you don't. You were
still in your cradle.

I was only a kid.

But I'll never forget it.

I got welcome home and milk across the
sky.

And find a QB.

You were there a while.

You're a QB, aren't you? Yeah, sure.

I didn't even know what QB meant.

When someone told me about the quiet
burden, old pilots joining together to

the flying game, I loved that.

They seemed apart from ordinary people.

Oh, they were.

That, uh, that first tubing hangar was a
great place. Each pilot had his own

drinking mug.

And whenever one got bumped off, they
put the mug on a shelf over the bar,

brought him up.

And your first drink was always a silent
toast to the shelf.

How swell.

You ought to be proud of the way you
feel. And all the flying you've done.

Oh,

you're a grandkid.

And to think of it, an old egg like me
is one of a little girl like you.

And really funny.

You know, there's a... I've never met
anyone quite like you before.

I hope you don't agree.

It's been a good feeling.

It's been sweet.

All at the same time.

Don't do it.

Don't do it.

What are you trying to do?

What's it to you?

She's a nice kid. Lay off of her.

Oh, go away.

Cut it out, Dizzy. Cut it out.

All right, Jake. All right. All right.
What's the matter with you two?

I'll let you know next time this
happens. I'll fire the both of you. The

you can do is settle your private fights
outside.

I'm sorry, Jake. I lost my temper.

All right, Jake. I'm sorry, too. Come
on, kid. Let's shake it. Forget it.

I'll see you later. That'll do, Lawson.

Okay, Jake.

I did my best. Try to apologize.

I thought you had more sense.

Oh, it didn't mean anything, Jake. I was
standing over there pulling. I'll tell

you when he came in, he got sore.

But it didn't mean a thing.

That's the trouble. Nothing means
anything to you. But she means a lot to

Dizzy, why don't you grow up?

Oh, don't be angry with me, Jake. I'm
serious.

Don't be a grandstander all your life.
We've had enough trouble. I don't want

difficulties. I don't want any personal
friction.

Why don't you try and work with people
and be a part of the outfit?

Are you meaning to infer, sir, that I'm
not a cop in the wheel? No, you're a

cop. No,

we're calling Texas Clark on plane nine.

No, we're calling Texas Clark on plane
nine.

Ready to test your transmitter.

Go ahead, Texas.

Go ahead, Texas.

Go on, call him again.

No, we're calling Texas Clark on plane
nine.

Go ahead, Texas.

Keep trying.

Yes, sir. Stop chewing that gum!

Yes, sir.

No, we're calling Texas Clark on plane
nine.

Hello there, Texas.

Call Martin's Creek Emergency. We'll see
if they've heard anything.

Due in 14 minutes. His radio must be
dead. He'd have told us if anything else

was wrong.

From now on, we have an extra radio on
every plane. About time. Hello, Martin's

Creek. Have you heard the eastbound
plane?

Yeah?

Yeah? Thanks.

He passed over Martins Creek a few
minutes ago, flying high.

Good, he's still on the beam. Oh, that's
a relief.

Notify all stations by telepath. Number
nine, not reporting.

Yes, sir. Les, give me that weather
report.

Oh, Jake. Say, uh, say, Jake.

Uh, you know, don't you, that I didn't
swap runs with Tex just to hand him a

hard one? Oh, sure, I know that.

Is, is Tex in the air in this? Yeah,
he's on his way home, Mike.

On his way home.

Yeah.

I was coming home on a night like this,
and I couldn't see the ground.

The trees, the houses, or anything.

And?

And I hit.

I stopped like a train hitting a wall.

And I hurt all over. Cut it, Mike. Cut
it. And my chest. I couldn't breathe. I

said, take it easy, Mike. Take it easy.

Take it easy.

Oh, yeah.

I remember.

Jake said, take it easy.

You know, Dizzy?

You ought to be smart and stop flying.

What? You're too old to fly.

Oh, no, Mike. It'll get you sure.

What good does it do you?

Make you brave?

You're afraid.

You know you're afraid. You're always
afraid. You're afraid someday you'll

It's true. It's true. I'm a valentine.

No more calling Texas 4. I complain 9.
Go ahead, Texas.

You all right now?

Yeah.

I'm all right.

I was just kind of fogged over.

You're all right now.

We're all for you. Run along home.

Yeah, I guess I'd better run home.

The wife might be willing.

She thinks I'm still flying.

North, Holly Fisher's Park and plane
nine. Go ahead, Texas.

You know, Jake, Texan ought to get down
on this without a radio unless he finds

a hole.

Find a hole in that mud?

It's solid overcast.

At least 15 ,000 feet thick.

Well, there's no use worrying until he
starts coming into the field.

Yeah, and then we'll pray him down. No,
we're calling Texas 4. Complain 9. Go

ahead, Texas.

Dizzy, plug this into the outside
transmitter circuit and check it. Go

Texas.

No, we're calling Texas 4. Complain 9.
No, we're calling Texas 4. Complain 9.

No, we're calling Texas Clark. Complain
nine. Go ahead, Texas.

Go ahead, Texas.

Hiya, Jake.

Hello, it's Marley.

What are you doing here with the common
people? Believe it or not, I'm looking

for a job.

Can you use a good aviator? No, you
wouldn't want to work with us. Why not?

Have to spend a year learning the ropes
as co -pilot. Co -pilot? Mm -hmm.

I'd hit the bread lines before I'd start
riding with some other guy at the

controls. No, we're calling Texas Clark.
Complain nine. No, we're calling Texas

Clark. Complain nine. Go ahead, Texas.

Still doesn't answer.

Having trouble? Yeah. Tex Clark is on
his way in from Cleveland. Something

with his radio.

He tries to land on that groove. There's
something wrong with his head.

Tex Clark at number nine. Still on
instruments.

West leg. North leg.

Altitude 4 ,000.

Give ceiling at north.

Oh, it's still on the ground.

Calls him a barometer. 29, 80.

North. Answer nine.

I answered, Texas.

North. Answer nine.

I did answer, Texas.

That's the note I would get for it. Get
on the job.

Well, he's not receiving.

Now it sounds like your semi -set's
going bad. Sure you're transmitting?

sir. Dizzy, did you check on that
outside set? Yeah, sure. It's working.

Well, nothing to do with weight, I
guess.

Well, we'll be hearing his mood in a
couple of seconds, anyway.

Hiya, Dizzy. How are all your women?

Oh, I can't complain.

And they haven't.

What happened to that slim brunette you
used to chase around with? You don't

figure he's going to know it from that
description, do you? You know what I

mean. You were going with her when I was
getting the ship from the Fokker plant.

Oh, you mean, uh...

Uh, you mean, uh, uh... Eileen. No, no,
not that one.

You remember. She lived in a little
white house over in East Orange. Oh, no,

never knew anybody in East Orange.

What other one do you mean? You mean
Catherine.

No, no, that wasn't her name.

She was crazy about you.

You said she was the only girl that ever
got under your skin. I said that about

a million of them. Forget it.

Say, what happened to your trip you went
to Alaska?

You remember. Oh, I went down south
instead. Got a better job. More with

Marley.

What was that girl's name?

Was it Miller?

Oh, no, Jake. He wasn't married. That's
it. Mary Miller.

You know her?

Yeah, I know her.

I married her.

Married her?

Oh, no, Jake. This was another one.

I met your wife that day at Asbury Park.
You remember?

This was another one. Her name was Mary
Dillon.

That's it. Dillon.

Oh, I wouldn't know her then.

No, Holly. You never met this girl.

Well, Jake, if that co -pilot rule still
holds good, I guess I'll be going.

So long.

So long. So long, Smiley.

You know,

that lug hasn't changed a bit. It is.

How much of that was on the level?

Oh, not a bit of it, Jake. Not a bit of
it. Did Mary really get under your skin?

No, no, never.

Listen, Mary never gave me a tumble. She
and I plowed around together for a

while, but then you came along and she
found out what a foul boy I really was.

Jake, I don't have to tell you what a
fine, sweet girl Mary is, you know. No,

her reputation wasn't so cockeyed.

Listen, Jake, text him straight this
whole thing out for us.

Jack, Tex and I were living together at
the time, and I told him everything.

There's no question. Number nine to
Newark. Hello, Texas.

Wake up down there. I'm still flying
blind.

West Lake, North Range.

Think I'm getting close to field. Good
night, Buzz. Give me the surface wind

barometer readings. I'm going to try to
land. Paulie, get those players ready.

He's three.

Barometer 2980.

on the ground. I'm going to wrap this
radio around Baldy's neck. The beam's

fading out. No work to answer mine.

I can't land unless you give me the
door. Sound like a sending set. Quit on

them. I wish I were up there instead
of... Oh, it's tough enough having him

there. If you're up there, it'll be an
anger on how to get you down.

I had a plane up there. Quiet,
everybody.

Listen. Open those windows. Bring that
speaker up. Come on, get on that outside

set.

Sounds awfully high, Jake. Yeah.

Come on, boy, talk him down.

This is Jake, Texas.

You're approaching the field west of the
office. You sound much too high. You

must be a thousand feet. You should be
losing altitude very fast.

Answer by radio or jazz your motor if
you hear me. Jazz your motor if you hear

me.

He's not getting a thing, Jake. Holy,
light those flares.

You're much too high, Texas. You're over
the edge of the field. You better

circle back and make a new approach.
You've got to come in lower.

If you can't make it this time, you'll
overshoot the field. I can't see a

Turn off those lights in there. Yes,
sir.

You're passing the field now, Texas.

You're miles too high. Circle back and
make a new approach. You've got to come

in lower. You must... He's going on.

Doc, have you read him? It's a grasp
that stands right here. He notified the

state police. Let's turn those lights
back on again. He won't pass the coast.

knows he's somewhere near Newark. Hello,
state police headquarters.

Cover that line. It's Newark.

Say, we brought the plane in the fog.

If any of your stations hear it over
here, will you report to us at once?

Everybody in your stations, stand by.

Keep all those beams over there. It
might work any one of them.

Let's continue all routine broadcasts
before any contact with 9 to Norwalk at

once. Hello, Radio Newark?

Text Clark and 9 has lost the fog of the
sick radio set. Will you keep the belt

on opening Washington cabinet beams
open, please? I thank you.

You know, if those beams were so narrow
near the field, you'd have a better

chance. Won't do any good if his radio's
gone dead on him.

Yeah? Yeah?

Uh -huh.

Still, please report a ship over for
safe. Set it out.

North to Texas Clark, you're over for
safe.

Acknowledged.

All right,

thank you.

Pilots over plane, if you're listening
in. Report a ceiling of 100 feet. Send

out. North to Texas Clark. Plainfield
report. Ceiling 100 feet. Acknowledge.

North to Texas Clark. Plainfield report.
Ceiling 100 feet. Acknowledge. Come on.

What is it? Keep text off Long Island.
Focus on the ground over there. Time it

out. North to Texas Clark. Take a chance
on the man's right. Time to climb for

altitude. Hit the silk. But you can't
reach him. Time to go over the side and

use the chute.

North to Texas Clark. Don't attempt to
land. Climb for altitude and go over the

side. That's orders. North to Texas
Clark. Don't attempt to land. Climb for

altitude and go over the side. That's
orders.

North to Texas Clark. Don't attempt to
land. Climb for altitude and go over the

side. That's orders.

And now...

Jake, what is it? What's wrong?

Now, it's all right, Lou.

Don't lie to me, Jake. You told him to
use his chute.

Something has gone wrong, but don't
worry. Tex will get down all right.

Stop lying, Jake. Now, listen. I struck
an ambulance standing by.

Oh, hello, Lou.

You've got to tell me, Jake.

His radio's dead.

Well, then he didn't hear you tell him
to use his chute.

You know, Tex, he'd never bail out
without orders from you.

He can't land in this fold without his
radio.

Well, what are you going to do, Jake?
You've got to do something.

Let's go home.

Well, I've just been there sitting over
the radio.

Oh, not just tonight, but one night
after another, alone, wondering whether

would ever come home or not. I know,
darling, but come on. Oh, but I've been

doing that so often, sitting there going
crazy, waiting for the telephone to

ring.

Is that why you switched your run?

Yeah.

Listen.

Turn off that teletype.

He's picked up the field lights.

Thanks, Clark, to know what it was.

Listen to me. I think I see the field
lights. Tell Jake I'm heading in.

No, we're calling Texas Clark. Clark,
help with those plans. Yes, sir. No,

calling Texas Clark. Check these lights.

I think they're over here, Jake.

Coming into the field. Headed straight
for number one hangar. You sound just

about right. Keep her straight and
settle her in slow.

Next block, call on Newark. Why don't
you answer?

Answer me, Newark!

Texas, you owe me. I should reach 200
feet.

Well, here I come.

Feeling for the ground.

Not getting a thing, Jake. I don't think
I can keep trying.

You're headed straight for the hangars,
Texas. Right over the...

You guys must be shooting crap or
something.

He's too low, Jake, too low. No, he's
too low. You sound too low, Texas.

still outside the field. You're headed
for the...

Calling all stations.

Texas Park and Plane 9 just crashed at
Newark.

Discontinue standing by.

Resume regular routine.

WWGR.

Newark.

Welcome to Newark.

Pressure weather, 1215 AM.

Welcome. Healing zero.

Visibility zero.

Heavy sleep, temperature 27, 2 .27, for
under 29, correction,

for under 29 .60, I think the nation
will be encountered at all else too.

WWAQ, welcome.

Okay, Belfont. Okay, and a little of
some good news. Tex got off the table in

great shape. Swell.

Yeah, he was conscious for a couple of
seconds, looked up with that old

smile of his and slipped back into the
ether. How's his leg? Gonna be all

His arms? Set perfectly and no spinal or
head injuries either. Ooh, and after

that crack -up. Say, what's the last
word? What'd they do to him, Tay? They

him a blood transfusion from Dizzy.
They'll phone if there's any change. Oh,

he'll pull through all right. Sure he
will.

Hey, Doc, don't count on me tomorrow.
I'm going to get tied tonight. I guess

you'll have plenty of company. Say, I'll
take over the duty. You better get some

rest. You may have to take out the night
man. I don't need it. I'm too happy.

Well, we all are. Doc, did you get rid
of the wreck? Yes, sir. What did I tell

you about that cap of yours? What two
men paying the hangers? Yes, sir.

Inspection all finished?

Finished in the morning. Good. What are
you all standing around for?

Running an airline, not a kindergarten?
Get going!

Federal Airlines, Jake Lee speaking.

Oh, hello, Diz. How is he? Not so good.

From what I can gather, his heart's bad.

No. Well, they won't be able to tell for
a couple of hours yet.

Then they'll tell everyone the way his
heart reacts.

Yeah.

Yeah. I'll be home in a few minutes.

I want to talk to Lou.

All right.

Well, his heart's not so good.

They won't know anything for a couple of
hours.

Well, gang, you might as well get going
and do whatever you have to do.

Hello.

I know it sounds stupid to say I'm
sorry.

But I am, really.

I know you're sorry.

Your kind always is when it's too late.

Oh, don't worry. I'm not going to shout.

I don't think I'll ever shout or be
angry again.

I used to shout at Tex because he was
like a little boy. I thought I had to to

make him understand that I never did
much good.

I have no desire to hurt you, Disney.
That won't help Tex.

But I've got this to say to you.

You're no good.

You're no good and you never have been.
In all your life, you've never helped

anyone. Ever since I've known you,
people have been doing things for you.

helped you when he got you brought back
here.

And if you stay here, you'll hurt him
and Mary.

You've already hurt Tommy.

Everybody you touch, you hurt your
friends most of all.

That's all.

Well, what?

No change.

How do you feel?

All right.

Say, Jake, I've got a hunch that Tex
isn't going to make it.

Well, stop thinking that way, because I
got a hunch he will.

Anyway, it wasn't your fault that he
crashed.

When Tex took the run, the show was all
his.

I can't feel that way about it.

And neither could you if you were in my
spot.

No, I don't suppose I could.

I'd give anything if I hadn't told you
that lion sent him up there.

Diz, you've got to learn to play the
rules.

Now, I know all your faults, and I've
stood for them up to this time

Well, we've been through so much
together.

But I always believed that no matter
what you did with other people, you'd

straight with me.

Now I'm beginning to wonder.

Isn't Jake?

I know I've cut a lot of corners.

But there's one person I won't even want
to square with.

Always have been, except in this one
instance.

And that's you.

You know, don't you, kid, that you won't
take so long I've got left in the

world.

And I'd cut my heart out for you.

Please don't be mad at me.

What Smiley said about you and Mary.

You told me there was nothing to that.

Absolutely nothing.

My word of honor.

It's good enough for me.

Oh, there's a bottle there in the
locker.

You better knock on it.

You'll feel better.

Thanks, Jim.

Doc, is number six ready to go?

No, sir.

I don't think you're going to send it
out. You didn't think? We've got a ship

ready for every schedule in this
airport. We're not flying kites. Yes,

Federal Airlines, Zig Lee speaking.

How is he?

Well, I'll come right over.

Will you phone me?

Tex?

Yeah.

He's pretty weak.

You better go and tell Dizzy.

No, Dizzy, I can't stand to see you so
unhappy.

Tex wouldn't want you to feel that way.
He'd understand.

Oh, why don't you go home? It doesn't do
any good staying here.

I'll phone you. No, I can't stand being
alone.

I'd go off my nut over there by myself.

You... You don't have to be alone.

1211 Wellington Road.

Apartment 14.

You go on over and I'll be there in a
little while.

Hmm?

Betty. Hmm?

Will you see Tay?

Tell him goodbye for me, will you?

Mm -hmm.

Hello, Joe. How does it look?

You got a clean bill, Jake. The
inspection was good.

Well, I'm glad something's right around
here.

Where's Davis?

He's inside.

He's all broken up about Tex, naturally.

Yes, I know.

And I've got another job to hand him.

What do you mean?

Washington won't renew his pilot's
license.

Well, they can't do that. He can't fly
without a ticket. That's just it.

They don't want Davis to fly.

Oh, I know, but that'll break Dizzy's
heart.

Flying is his life. That's all he knows.
I'm sorry, Jake. As a matter of fact,

I'd rather you tell him about it. You
think that'll be easy for me?

No, but it might make it easier for
Dizzy.

Make what easier?

Well, come on. Tell me. What is it?
Text?

No, it's not text.

It's your license.

What about it?

They're not going to renew it.

Why?

Here's what they say.

The record of Pilot Davis, license
number 376.

Shows repeated violation of regulations
as indicated by complaints filed at this

office. Correct.

You are hereby directed to lift the
license to this pilot and forward same

this office immediately.

Signed, John Taylor. A direction.

It's all so unfair, canceling a man's
license without giving him a chance to

state his own case.

They make the decisions, Jake. All I can
do is carry them out.

I'll, uh, I'll have to have that ticket,
Davis.

We'll find something, kid.

Yeah.

But I can get a job like Mike Owen. No,
don't be a fool.

Can't change now.

I can only figure a way to get that
license back.

Oh, forget that.

That's gone.

But, Dizzy, you've got to realize you're
through flying.

All right, then let's figure out what I
can do.

Well, you could hold down a job like
this.

But you wouldn't.

Oh, I've got an executive bone in my
body, Jake.

Just a flying shoulder, that's all I'm
proud of.

If I did get that license back, would
you promise me something?

I don't promise anything. What is it?

Stick to the rules, keep out of trouble,
and lay off of Tommy.

Lay off Tommy? You heard me.

She doesn't mean a thing to you, and she
means a lot to Tay. It'll only cause a

lot of wrangling. What do you say?

Oh, no. Come on, what do you say?

Now, what do you want me to do, take up
knitting? Quit the stalling.

Is it a deal? Do you promise?

All right, tell me.

How are you going to get it back?

Fred Adams wasn't kidding when he said
he had a big dragon watching, and he

a real one.

He could get that license approved in
five minutes. And what do you suppose

want for that?

Buying ships, I guess.

I don't care.

Do you think I'm going to let you buy a
lot of second -rate stuff just to get my

license back?

And what would you do after you bought
it? You'll resign.

I'm getting tired of fighting Al Stone.
I'll get my shirt to be a pilot again.

Well, then...

Maybe you and I and Tex could start a
little line or a school someplace. Why

not? After all the years you spent
trying to get somewhere... You want to

flying? I'd rather stop breathing.

But I'm not going to let you take the
rap from me. I'm still running this

airline. Well, then run it right.

And cut out the silly sentimentality.
Let the old -timers go.

I wouldn't have missed neither would
Tex. What are you talking about?

You know what I'm talking about.

This business has changed.

Flyers aren't pilots anymore.

They're engineers.

This is a college man's game. Our work
is done.

Pioneering is over.

Pioneering is not over. The D -Ices are
pioneering. Ah.

Well, the trouble is you want to quit
because... You're the one that's

You know, you made this line.

You built it up to a point where it's
the most important thing in commercial

aviation today.

And now you want to throw it to the dogs
and buy a lot of box kites just so I

can get my license back.

Well, I'm not going to let you do it.
You're not going to let me do it. No,

not.

Edit Airlines. Jake Lee speaking.

It can't be.

I'm going over to see Lou.

Yeah. I couldn't face her again.

You want to take over the duty?

Yeah, Jake, I'd like to.

You better cancel the night mail.

No use having any more trouble.

Tell Lawson it's off.

1 .11 a .m. Special weather. Long
mischance to heavy sleep.

Icing condition.

Cut it off.

I... I'm sorry about text, Davis.

I know how you must feel.

Thanks, kid.

Is Jake at the hospital?

Yeah, he's over there with Lou.

Did he leave any orders about the mail
going out?

Well, I got to get going.

Bird walking weather between here and
Cleveland.

No.

Ever been over the hill in weather as
nasty as this?

A few piles have.

Listen, kid.

Why don't you give yourself a break?

I'm telling you, it's too tough.

Jake's been waiting months for weather
like this. He's got the dope on those

de -ices.

Well, listen, Olsen, tell me.

How do those new de -ices work?

I'm sorry, I haven't got time now. Oh,
yes, you have.

Those are orders.

I'm in charge here. How do they work?

Come on, I'll show you.

The ice is a rubber cemented along the
leading edge of both wings.

It divides into four compartments on a
parallel along here, connected by tubes

of control here in the cockpit, worked
by a pulsator in the motor.

The action is alternate, like this.

that cracks and loosens the ice that's
carried away in the slipstream.

Wind tunnel test show there's nothing
left to do now but fly it under actual

icing conditions.

Are you really in love with Tommy?

What's it to you if I am? You want to
marry her?

Well, I... I had hoped to.

Where is she now?

At home, I suppose.

I suppose.

Why don't you make it your business to
know where she is?

Now, look here, Davis. Let's cut the
squabbling.

I like Tommy. I think she's a grandkid.

Take good care of her.

I wish both of you all the luck in the
world.

I start nice every day.

Lawson.

Have a good hop.

Thanks.

I'm taking the mail. Okay.

Good

evening,

Mr. Stone. Where's Jake Lee?

Why, he just slipped out. He's going
over to the hospital to find out... Is

the night mail going out?

Yes, sir, right on schedule.

Oh, Jake decided the weather was all
right.

I really don't know, Mr. Stone. He
doesn't discuss those things with me.

Jake, I came over here because I didn't
like your attitude on the telephone.

That's tough.

Of course, I know you're tired and
upset, but after all, you've got to pay

attention to the opinion of the New York
office. I didn't know it had any.

Well, it has, and if we're going to work
together, you've got to listen more

reasonably.

I've been doing that for an awful long
time now.

What's the matter with you, Jake?
Nothing.

Well, then why don't you listen?

All your trouble comes from Dizzy Davis.

I warned you about him before, and you
talked me out of it. Now I'm going to

have my way.

All right.

You can have your way, but without me.

Dizzy Davis is through with Better
Airlines, and so am I.

And so is Texas Clark.

What are you talking about?

Texas is dead.

What?

Yes, he died a few minutes ago.

Well, that's too bad.

I'm sorry to hear about it.

That doesn't mean that you have to
leave, does it?

Well, we can't get along, Al. I'd be
happier someplace else, and so would

Incidentally, my last official act will
be to recommend that you buy the Adams

bomber. Adams bomber? I thought you were
stuck on a Browning transport. I was.

Now, listen, Jake, if you're leaving,
it's a question of salary, purely a

question of friendship. Easy, Davis, in
six to no. All right, Davis. On

instruments, Westlake, Newark range.

Visibility zero.

Temperature 30.

I'm beginning to take on ice.

Building up on the leading edges.

Want to try the de -ices?

See if they'll break it up. We'll call
you back in a few minutes, give you

results. I'm going to take off. Okay,
Davis.

He took the night mail.

Leaving the crown and this stuff, he'll
be covered with ice before he goes 30

miles. Doc, didn't you know the night
mail was to be held? No, sir. And if it

wasn't Lawson, it was to be the pilot?
Don't keep him. Shut up. You saw the

schedule. We're running an operations
office, not a circus.

Tizzy said he was taking Lawson's place.
He had no business taking Lawson's

place, and Lawson had no authority to
switch with him.

The pilot's schedule will stop being a
Ouija board if I have to hire somebody

do nothing but kiss every one of them
goodbye.

Why don't you run it? Why don't you run
it, then? Tell him to turn back at once.

Davidson 6, order to return to Newark at
once and land. That's orders.

Looks much behind me than it does ahead.

I'm going on.

Tell him he can't go on. I'm ordering
him back to Newark. Newark to Davidson

report and land at once. Division,
superintendent's orders.

All right, boys, all right.

Tell Jake to come to the mic. Tell him
to get that ship back here and set it on

the ground.

Jake won't talk to you, Dizzy.

Report and land at once.

Jake, give me that.

Listen, Dizzy.

You know you can't fly through that
stuff. Now turn back before you get into

trouble.

Stop having a bend in the air.

This is important.

The pressure has got to be doubled.

And the rear tube has got to move back
at least... ...at least eight inches so

the ice won't form behind it. That
didn't work like a million bucks.

Right now, the tubes are frozen flat.

We've got to put them on the stabilizer
and think.

Yeah, get that?

That's all I can tell you now, Jakey
boy.

Now listen, Diz, I'm ordering you back
to Newark. No arguing and no

grandstanding. Get over the field as
soon as possible.

There's not much chance of that, baby,
unless you send me up a skyhook. Well,

this certainly is a beautiful
performance. I'd do like to take charge

Listen, Dick, you have no shortage of
things.

Come on, unlock that door. Get her open,
Doc.

Get her open. Come on, unlock that door.
Oh, I might have figured this.

I know.

Give me that.

No, we're calling Davidson 6. No, we're
calling Davidson 6.

Yeah, Jake.

She's getting pretty heavy.

High's all over.

I've got the motor wide open, but she's
mushing along at 85.

Losing altitude fast.

Great weather for this test.

Listen, Dizzy, this is Jake. Leave the
ship. Use your parachute. Don't wait

she spins. Go to the side. Fail out. Hit
the silk. Do you hear me?

No can do, baby.

Jake, when Dizzy got in the ship, he
didn't wear his shoes. What?

Didn't he shoot too, Jake?

Listen, Dizzy, try and fly her in on her
wings so the crack will be easy. Do

something. Do anything.

I'm down to 1 ,500 feet on the beam.

The ice looks a foot thick on the
leading edge.

It's getting very wishy now, and we'll
respond to the controls.

No, just starting to spin.

Don't look at the grass tonight. Give my
love to everybody, and pay my lady that

four bucks I owe her. So long, baby, and
don't be mad at me. I wish I could...

No, I can't...

It's okay, honey. I'm all right.

You sure?

Yeah.

Run along now. I'll be home soon.

I don't see how I could get away without
a parachute.

You know, it's against all orders.

Oh, I know. I know.

Well, how do you feel about this, Jake?

Are you going to stay?

Well, there's no use in my going now.

I've watched this land grow from
nothing.

I've watched men die that are not our
friends in land.

I'm going to stay.

But how I run this line and how pilots
fly is my business.

Whether I'm right or wrong has nothing
to do with it.

I'll go back to New York and dig this
person to your desk and leave this one

me.

Lawson. Yes, sir.

Did you hear what Dizzy said about those
de -icers?

No, sir. Well, get the dope from Buzz.
That's your next job. And remember, a

swell guy made it easy for you.

Yes, sir. What are you all standing
around for? We're still running an

Yes? Get that crash truck rolling.

Yes. Doc, we take off for search in
planes 4 and 12 as soon as the weather

becomes viable.

Get every ship ready for its run on
tomorrow's schedule.

Well, come on, get going.

Yes, sir.

Special weather report.

During the past hour, the storm has
lessened in intensity.

Forecast clearing weather.

Present weather, light sleep,
temperature 29.

Visibility zero, ceiling zero. That is
all.