Original subtitles

So I'm supposed to land on a truck going 60 miles an hour? No, I'm going to.

There's a killer and a thief. This movie stunt is probably a cover for another

caper. Then we no longer need you, Mr. Holmes.

There's no way that I'm going to undercut Dominic. Even if you could save

his life?

Come on!

Won't you even fight me like I'm still a man?

That's crazy.

He's going to kill us.

Do something.

Mile A56-7W, top secret subject, Airwolf. A Mach 1 plus attack

helicopter. Sought by governments friendly and foreign, Airwolf has been

hidden by test pilot Stringfellow Hawk. To be returned to the government, only

if his brother Sinjin, an MIA in Vietnam, can be found.

Michael Colesmith Briggs III, codename Archangel. Deputy Director of the

intelligence agency that developed Airwolf.

Believed to covertly provide logistical support to Hawk in exchange for flying

Airwolf on missions of national interest.

Hawk is 34, reclusive, sensitive, a loner, known to associate with his only

friend and mentor, Dominic Santini.

Together, Hawk and Santini fly Airwolf at speeds rivaling the fastest jets.

Backed by unmatched firepower, Airwolf is a weapon too dangerous to be left in

unenlightened hands.

Finding Airwolf is your number one priority.

End of file.

Hold that truck at 60.

That idiot's going to run out of road.

Are you running out of time?

At least I'm in one piece.

This thing can't be done.

Come on. Help him out. Come on.

Oh, Simon.

I see you have succeeded in failing again.

I'm sorry, Mr. Maurice, but I don't really think that stunt can be done.

The script was approved and budgeted.

You agreed to it, Simon.

There'll be no changes.

Vinnie is one of the best pilots in the business.

He did the flying in the Green Cloudburst film. Who's the best, Simon?

Santini Air, but that won't be easy.

I'll only deal with legitimate organizations.

Well, legitimate, all right. It's just that they're a lot more expensive.

Mr. Sayes, I discovered you're at the bottom of the barrel of used-to-be

directors. I've given you the opportunity to become a wealthy man if

this film is successful.

Do not pinch pennies on my behalf or yours. Do you understand?

I think so.

No, don't think, Sass.

Just listen.

And do.

Yes, sir.

What do you got against Rich?

I don't know.

I never did.

Rich ain't an it. It's an is. That's lousy English.

Well, I'm talking money, not pronunciation.

I don't need any right now.

But I do.

So I'm supposed to land on a truck going 60 miles an hour.

No, I'm going to.

I need you to work ground control.

You want me to work ground?

Yeah, you.

Why? What's the matter?

Nothing, Don.

What are you trying to say?

Come on, spit it out, String. You're chewing on something and not swallowing.

I don't think you ought to do this, Stunt.

What, you're saying I can't do it?

You think I'm washed up?

Dom, I can't run the hundred in ten seconds anymore.

And I can't stay up for three days and bounce back with four hours sleep.

And sometimes, when it's real damp and cold... The man-made cracks in these

bones of mine ache like hell.

I try to remember that when I take one of these jobs.

Well, maybe you're the one that's getting old.

But I'm not ready to retire yet.

I'm flying this stunt with or without you.

Springfellow Hawk.

Is the name for real?

It's for real.

Only he won't be doing the flying. I will. Oh.

Great stuff, huh?

I just might consider investing in an orchard. Eh, Simon?

Gentlemen?

To the test run late this afternoon.

There'll be no test run.

I believe I'm covering the cost of the test and the overall deal.

Look, Mr. Santini, I just want to make sure that you can do it. That's all.

Oh, I'm sure, because I'm not planning on killing myself.

Well, then why not do the practice run, just to satisfy me?

Mister, I got 30 years of practicing under my belt. I don't think I need any

more.

Besides, it's going to take me a couple of days just to rig the helicopter, do

some figuring on the weights.

And he said there wasn't much time.

From what I hear, this, uh... this string fellow hawk does most of the

flying.

I'm Santiniere.

I decide who flies my equipment or who uses my equipment.

I'll deliver, or you don't have to pay a red cent.

Without this stunt, my film doesn't work.

Are you willing to pick up the cost if you fail?

Yeah. You could lose your whole business.

My business to lose, isn't it?

Mr. Santini, you've got yourself a deal.

Welcome aboard. Oh, by the way, Mr. Sayers will handle everything.

Gentlemen.

What if he doesn't pull it off?

The man is betting everything he owns on his ability.

He could still be wrong.

I know.

That's why I want you to contact this, uh... String fellow.

Whatever.

Morning, Edward.

Morning. I can't drink coffee anymore.

It's my nerves raggedy. I know that.

Take it.

It's nice juice.

You know, if I didn't know you better, Mr. Maurice, I'd swear my mother sent

you. I'd rest her soul.

What do you say we hold the services for later, all right?

Sorry, Mr. Murray.

I'm just a little nervous.

I think this should calm you down.

I won't be able to have the final schedule until tomorrow.

Tomorrow will be fine.

What if I'm not on duty?

Make sure you're there.

But you see, it doesn't work that way, Mr. Maurice.

Mr. Stoner, are you telling me that you might be unable to deliver?

I'll come through.

I'm sure you will.

You don't have to worry about me, Mr. Maurice.

I have to worry about everything, Ed.

You only have to worry about your health.

You seem to have gone to an awful lot of trouble contacting me by radio.

Just to see if Dominic Santini can fly.

Oh, I know he can fly, Mr. Hawk.

But can he do it as well as you?

He taught me.

How long ago?

Dominic is one of the best chopper pilots in the business.

I hear that you're the best.

Mr. Santini has given us a completion guarantee.

That'll either make him a great deal of money or lose him his business.

What's important is that if he fails, my film fails.

What's important?

is that if he fails, he can lose his life.

Yes, it would be a shame, naturally.

And apparently it concerns you as much as it does me.

The only thing that seems to concern you is your film.

No, I believe we can satisfy all our purposes if you fly the stunt for me.

It's Dominic's company.

I can't tell him what to do.

Well, what is it, the money?

Sure, I can sway your thinking.

I'm sure you'd like to keep him hale and hearty.

Here's my offer.

I'll disregard the completion guarantee if you'll fly the stunt sequence.

And win or lose, your friend Mr.

Santini gets the best of it. His health and a sizable profit.

I can't tell Dominic what to do.

He's his own man.

Think about it.

But I want an answer by tomorrow noon.

I'll give you one right now.

There's no way that I'm gonna undercut Dominic.

Even if you could save his life?

You know, junk food will kill you.

Well, you think my stomach's too old to take it?

You want to tell me how to eat now, too?

I didn't mean it like that. I was just kidding.

Some things aren't funny.

Sorry, Dom.

Okay.

Accepted.

What are you doing here at this hour?

I changed my mind.

About what?

The stunt?

Yeah.

I'd like to do it with you.

I knew you'd come around.

Now, Strick, this stunt is not as tough as it seems.

All we need is a quarter mile of straight road and for the truck to go a

steady 60.

Right? Now, I'll make a flying approach lined up on the road. The critical part

is the last six inches.

You'll call them out from the camera ship, huh?

Once I touch down, we're rich.

What's the matter?

Oh, oh, I forgot.

You don't know from rich, huh?

Dom, I meant I'd fly the stunt for you.

Hey, come on, Dom. Why you being so stubborn?

Because I'm not an old man ready for the rocking chair.

I'm a pilot and a good one.

I taught you, remember?

Yeah.

You taught me how to survive, too.

Evidently, I didn't teach you well enough.

Because you're still standing there.

Hey, Dom.

I mean it, string.

I was on my way to an international conference on terrorism, and you get me

here for this?

Dominic means a lot more to me than this.

Okay.

Grounding his entire operation just so that he won't fly a stunt could be

considered overkill.

Yeah, and if he crashes, you call it underkill?

You sure you're not just being a little overprotective? No. Listen, at his age,

his reflexes have slowed enough that a stunt like this just could kill him.

I could get the FAA to pull his license.

That'd kill him a whole lot quicker.

Do you want my help or don't you? Yeah, I want your help.

But not by pulling this ticket. There's got to be some other way.

You sure don't make it easy.

Well, that's why I call it for the best.

Oh.

Please, Fogg.

Don't try flattery. You do it so badly.

Maybe... Maybe I could get the state to pull the film permit just long enough

for... Dominic, to calm down.

That's a good idea. Thanks.

Well, don't be grateful until you find out what it's going to cost you.

What is it going to cost me? I'll think of something.

What's the name of that production company?

Bear Trap Productions.

A guy named Philip Maurice.

Why don't you fly this stunt?

I told you Dominic won't let me.

Well, it's the production company's decision, not Dominic's. If I fly it,

I'd lose a friend.

You'd be saving his life.

You said you'd help.

Now you're crawfishing on me. How come?

Oh.

Philip Maurice.

He's one of those brilliant minds that has the ability to function totally

without conscience in a deadly manner.

He masterminded a raid on a diamond mine in South Africa.

Hijacked uranium from a defense plant in England. He stole a MiG-21 from Red

China.

You name it, Mr. Maurice has done it.

Every law enforcement agency in the world ought to be after him.

Why don't you just grab him and save us both a problem?

It's not that simple. What he's done and what he can be charged with are two

different things.

Michael, there's something you're not telling me.

1978, he offered a KGB decoder to the highest bidder.

I take it it wasn't you.

No, the Russians bought it back.

You got outbid, huh?

You remember Sonia?

No.

She'd only been with me about a year when she went to East Berlin to bid on

that decoder.

When the Russians picked it up, they also got her.

Now, I can't... that Maurice turned her over to them, but I know he did.

Just as sure as I know the sun will rise in the morning.

I want him, Hawk.

And this movie he's making is probably a front for something I can nail him on.

You know what you're asking me.

If her name were Gabrielle instead of Sonia...

What, you're saying I can't do it?

You think I'm washed up?

At his age, his reflexes have slowed enough that a stunt like this just could

kill him.

I'm flying this stunt with or without you.

I'm not an old man ready for the rocking chair.

I'm a pilot and a good one.

There's no way I'm going to undercut Dominic.

Even if you could save his life?

You'll fly the stunt.

That's what I said.

Mr. Maurice will be very pleased.

I'd like to see him.

He's out of town right now, but I can sign the agreement.

There's nothing to sign.

I'll do the flying.

We pay Santini air.

Why do I get the feeling Mr. Santini knows nothing about this?

I don't know.

But whatever the reason, it's none of your business.

Okay, no problem.

So when and where are we going to shoot this stunt?

We'll be filming on several locations around the world.

Your sequence will be shot in Northern California within five days.

When and where exactly?

What difference does it make?

Wind, weather, atmospheric conditions, fuel supply, spare parts.

Not your problem. We'll handle it.

I'd like to know exactly how you're handling that.

This isn't our first production.

Mine either.

I'll get you a copy of your action sequence.

And I'll get in touch with you about the rest of the details in the morning.

Okay?

Yeah.

Mr. Santini.

Now, this is Saze from Bear Trap Productions.

I didn't expect it from you.

Not you.

I'm sorry, Dom. I had to do it.

To make me feel like a useless old man?

Well, that's not why I'm doing it.

Oh, you got a better reason?

Yeah, if you'll listen.

Oh, I'm all ears.

Archangel knows Maurice.

He's a... and a thief. He's pulled off dozens of high-tech robberies all over

the world.

This movie stunt is probably a cover for another caper.

Archangel wants to nail him. He asked if I'd help.

I'm supposed to believe this fairy tale?

Dom, it's the truth.

Okay, supposing it is. Then why are you still flying this stunt instead of me?

I told you, Archangel asked me to help.

Then do it from the ground.

Probably give you a better position anyway.

Damn it, Don, we've been through this. Yes, we have.

You think I'm over the hill ready for the boneyard.

No, I just think this one particular stunt might be just a little too risky.

And if I can't cut it, then I want to know.

Even if it kills you?

Yeah, kid.

Even if it kills me.

Won't you even fight me like I'm still a man?

So now you're to land a raiding party on the boxcar of a moving train, cut a hole

in the roof, rescue the girl, and then take off to the strains of a symphony

orchestra?

Yeah, I know.

Sounds like a bad TV movie to me, too.

Well, the perfect cover for the great train robbery.

What is it could be shipped by train?

It'd be worth all of Maurice's efforts.

Well, not everything goes by plane, Hawk. There's still a whole world out

there in constant contact with the ground.

Precious metals, computer parts, weapons, cash transfers, art. Could be

any one of a thousand things.

So what you're saying is it could be something shipped by train any time in

the next five days to the San Joaquin Valley.

I'm afraid so.

I could run a computer check on all government shipments, but that would

still leave out corporate transfers and private citizens.

Start.

And what's wrong now?

I can't use the firm's computers.

The committee would find out what I'm up to and want to take over the whole

operation.

Maybe that's not such a bad idea.

No, for two reasons.

In the past, Maurice has always been able to catch on to our operations.

I think he has a tap inside the firm.

You said two reasons.

I want him personally.

Besides, I've thought of another way to get the information.

A little risky, perhaps, but...

I'm sure it'll work.

You know, you blow this, the committee's gonna bust your butt.

There's not much use for ex-deputy directors on the street these days.

Well, I can always buy an ice cream truck with one headlight.

Here's the final schedule.

I've done it all, sweetheart.

I've shot film in every part of this world.

Under every possible condition.

Well, did you direct any of the famous stars?

All of them at one time or another.

Like who?

Flynn.

Wayne.

And Fonda.

All of them.

That's wonderful.

Who's in the picture you're making now?

Unknowns.

They're creating new ones.

Into stars?

Millionaires.

Oh, you're just fabulous, Mr. Sayles. Hey, hey.

Call me Simon.

Tell me some more about the picture you're making now.

Tons of it. The Treasury Department transfers it every year at this time

from regional depositories to Fort Knox.

By train?

Train, plane, truck, whatever.

It's low profile versus show of force. Different type of security, but it

works. Government's been using it for years. They've got it down to an

effective system.

Obviously, so does Maurice.

I told you he was good.

There are six train shipments scheduled out in the next four days that touch on

that 500-mile fuel rate issue you specified, Mr. Hawk.

Now, Say's dropped the name Stoner. We're checking him out. If he works on

one of those runs or is a dispatcher, he's their inside man.

It might tell us which train Maurice is planning to hit.

209 out of Bakersfield.

There are all possibilities, Mr. Hawk. I mean, that is, unless you possess some

sort of ESP.

No.

I possess a 4 a.m. call. That's the only gold train out of Bakersfield.

All arranged for air surveillance and a strike force.

No. Every time I've set a trap for Maurice, he's managed to slip it. I have

to limit knowledge of this operation to the people in this room.

at least until he hits the train. We'll fly cover.

No offense.

I've got someone else in mind.

Who?

You're up late.

That's what it takes to run a business.

What's wrong with her?

Anything over 120 knots and she starts to vibrate like a...

A Hotel Street chippy.

Hotel Street?

Honolulu.

Where I once flew combat with your father in World War II, remember?

Yeah, I remember.

What do you want?

I want to talk, not duck punches.

You gonna listen?

To what? A list of old age homes?

I need your help.

To gas your chopper, wash your windows?

To back me up on this job.

I'm not going to follow you around with a fuel truck, either.

How about an airwolf?

All set?

Yeah.

As soon as your little army here unloads their weapons.

That blanks.

One goes off, it'll still start a fire.

They got him on safety.

Good.

Unload him.

We could fly cover too, sir. Hawk wouldn't know until it was over.

No.

He risked losing his only friend to do this job for me.

I've got to let him play it out on his terms.

I thought you and Hawk were friends.

Hawk and I?

No. We just use each other.

I wouldn't call us friends.

No, sir.

Is that the track our train's on?

Yeah.

That's it.

Okay, baby.

Just you and me.

Thank you.

About 10 miles down there. That the one?

That's the one.

Where's the camera ship?

Where's the camera ship?

So funny.

Mr. Sayes has a very juvenile sense of humor, sir.

Drop down 50 feet and fly a heading of 180.

Now, Mr. Cole.

station well i'm sorry i didn't know i was still in the military do you have

them in sight negative well i got the train spotted they should be there by

now well they're not are you sure it's the right train

Did he really call you that?

There it is. Right on time.

That's your target, Mr. Hawk.

If he slows down or speeds up, we'll all be dead.

Then let's hope he doesn't.

Express 1, this is Stoner. You still on schedule?

That's a 10-4. Just entered the Mojave straight away.

I wasn't sure. Our speedometer here shows you're down to 42.

You know, your alarm goes off at 40 miles an hour.

Something's wrong. My speedometer's reading 55.

It probably needs recalibration. I'll tell you what. Why don't you nail it to

60 for the next couple of minutes and hold it steady?

That's a 10-4.

Okay, boys.

They've got to be there.

Well, come up here and see for yourself.

Sir, Stoner isn't with any railroad.

Meryl, we've got a slightly larger problem than locating Maurice's inside

man.

But, sir, he is a dispatcher with High Desert Trucking. They ship gold for the

government, too.

Mr. Maurice.

Then we no longer need you, Mr. Long.

It's gonna be dead!

Don't worry!

I can fly her off of here!

I'm betting our lives on that, Finny!

They're faster.

I'm flying her as fast as I can.

What's your airspeed, Dominic?

250 knots.

He's not using the turbo thrusters.

He can't. He'd never be able to control air, Wolf.

Oh, what the hell. You only live once.

Well, you sure took your sweet time getting here.

Sweet time?

You're lucky I got here at all.

You're supposed to be robbing a railroad, remember?

If Archangel hadn't found out about some guy named Stoner working for High Desert

Trucking Company, I'd still be following a train to Bakersfield.

How you doing?

Ah.

Nice landing.

Full power.

Both turbos.

Got some catching up to do.

You got it.

That's it, Mr.

Maurice. We can't lift off with any more.

Vinnie, how much do you say is in Miller Way?

About eight to ten bars.

Let's make it ten.

Five miles ahead.

Just a few more minutes, guys.

You can pull over to the side of the road and throw up if you want to.

Hey!

Hey, you can't leave me here!

I believe Mr. Say's had an accident, Vinnie.

Aren't you going to notify the authorities, Mr. Stoner?

Two minutes ahead of schedule.

Very nice.

Very nice.

What in the hell was that?

My chain guns?

It's crazy.

He's gonna kill us.

Absolutely. Sure I will.

I've had enough.

Thank you.

Michael, I've got Maurice and a friend packaged and ready for you.

Good job.

Shall I pick them up or will you bring them in?

We only gift wrap. We don't deliver.

What's the rush?

Too much for you?

It's supposed to be exercise.

We already had the...

Come on, this old man ain't done yet.

I recall you that.

I bet you made me feel like it.

No, Dom.

You made yourself feel like that.

Ah?

What, you're quitting on me?

Maybe.

Maybe not.

You've always been younger than me!