The Flight of the Phoenix (1965) Movie Script
[PLANE ENGINE ROARING]
Mr. Moran, we going to
be on time in Benghazi?
I don't see why not, Gabriele.
I'll ask Captain Towns
to make a special point of it.
TOWNS: 1350. Radio out of service.
Voltage regulators inoperative.
Holding course for Benghazi.
Thanks, Mike.
I'll let you have them back.
- How's it going up there?
- Lousy.
Never taken off in one of Arabco's
old tubs without something being wrong.
This time we've got faulty regulators
and a duff radio.
Don't let that hold you up.
I've got two months' leave coming.
It's not the company's time
we're flying on.
Radios are no good anyway.
I got a radio.
Record players are nice, though.
Reliable.
Thank you, doctor.
- Cigarette?
- No, thank you.
It's good of you
to give the Army a lift.
Not at all.
That's not much good, is it, sergeant?
Stow it away with the cargo.
The number four control pulley
on the starboard side seems a bit noisy.
Perhaps binding a bit.
I couldn't see properly.
I don't feel it up here.
I'd better have a look.
Hand me the flashlight.
- Ready for another flying lesson?
- Haven't recovered from the last one.
Oh, now, I got her
all trimmed up for you.
Just hold her straight.
Straight and level, 20 degrees.
Here, I'll take that.
Straight. Now, don't over-control it.
Don't sway it.
Thank you very much.
Don't leave me holding
this thing forever, will you?
BILL:
Hi, skipper.
How are you?
Hey, Mr. Bill. Here, try this.
It's real good for you. One drink, the girl
comes out of the picture and bites you.
BILL:
Hey, skipper, you want some ouzo?
- Make you fly real good.
- No thanks, son. I'm driving.
I reckon I deserve this. Listening to that
wog music has given me a headache.
[HUMS]
TOWNS: The pulley's all right.
Squeaking a little, that's all.
- How are you getting along?
- Magnificently.
But I think someone up there
knows that I'm flying this thing.
That's quite a sandstorm
he's sending our way.
Yep, I've seen it.
So much for your weather report.
Let's have a look at that chart.
- If it closes in on us...
- This old bird will need a coat of paint.
- What alternate did you nominate?
- El Aouzzad.
Three mud huts and a poison well.
That's not a place, that's a disease.
Oh, now, Lew, don't worry. We're not
about to start turning to alternates yet.
We're bigger than
a little local sandstorm.
MORAN: Old Auntie at traffic
management's gonna have kittens.
A pilot is supposed to use his own
judgment, don't you think?
Gee, if it weren't for that...
I don't know, Lew, I suppose pilots are
just as good now as they ever were...
...but they sure don't live
the way we did.
Well, I can tell you
that there were times...
...when you took real pride
in just getting there.
Flying used to be fun.
It really did, Lew.
It used to be fun.
- You don't think perhaps we should...?
- Head for the alternate?
You better take a look out the window.
We're being followed.
There goes our alternate.
That stuff up ahead
looks like it's rising.
I think we'd better find out
just how high it does go.
I must say, without the radio,
I would have expected them...
...to turn for the alternate airport
by now.
Wouldn't you?
I don't know you, do I, boy?
Are you from the oil field?
My brother is there. Dorfmann.
I went to visit him on my holiday.
- You went to visit your brother in Jebel?
- Yes.
He's chief analytical geophysicist
for the Arabco Oil Company.
That pilot...
I would have thought he was a little
elderly to be flying without a co-pilot.
Wouldn't you?
That sand's a bastard, you know that?
A real bastard.
Hey, Standish. Not while the train's
in the station.
It's not gonna let up, Frank.
[ENGINE SPUTTERING]
There she goes.
Are we gonna put her down?
That right engine didn't make it,
the other one probably won't either.
We're gonna have to put her down
before this one quits.
Can you get any lift out of her at all?
Well, maybe enough to hop over
a few sand dunes.
I'm gonna have to make it
on the first try.
We going in with our wheels down?!
I'd give anything not to,
but we'll never get up again if I don't.
No, I suppose not.
STANDISH:
What's happening? What is it?
CROW: The lights are shorting out.
BELLAMY: It's gonna start a fire.
[ENGINE SPUTTERING]
TASSO:
The cargo!
BILL:
It's breaking apart!
[YELLING]
TOWNS:
Lew?
Lew?
Come on, come on. Get a flashlight.
CROW: Let me out of here.
Come on, run. Run!
BELLAMY:
It's gonna blow!
BELLAMY:
Get away from the plane!
[SPEAKING IN SPANISH]
Maria.
Maria!
Harris, keep those guys together.
She won't burn now.
Get them under the wing
before we lose somebody.
Lew, see if you can get
the emergency lighting...
There are three trapped at the back.
Three trapped in the back!
Dr. Renaud!
Dr. Renaud!
Dr. Renaud!
Come on. Come on!
MORAN: Careful.
TOWNS: All together now. Easy.
MORAN:
Here it comes.
RENAUD: The leg is entirely crushed.
See if you can find my bag.
- What about the other two back here?
- They've had it.
TOWNS:
They've what?
MORAN:
Frank.
BELLAMY:
Skipper!
What are we gonna do now?
Do you want to say something?
Like what? "Sorry"?
There. Make it secure, will you?
Captain, don't you think it's time
we started getting things organized?
Yes, you're right.
I'll get Sergeant Watson to make up
some containers for flares.
- We'll need some of your fuel.
- Leave that to Moran.
Maybe you'd better check on our water
supply and figure up some rationing.
[HAMMERING]
How much longer do you estimate
we'll have to be here?
I mean, I take it there will be
an air search before long.
Yes, well, we're not due
in Benghazi till... Well, now.
He's a right little organizer,
your captain.
Yeah, they're all the same.
Toffee-nosed bunch of gits.
You shouldn't have joined,
should you?
I never did. I was what they call
a boy soldier. Me dad joined me.
- Did he?
- Attendant at the public baths, he was.
November 21 st, 1934.
Me mum made me a sponge cake
for me birthday tea.
Next morning the old man walked me
down our street right into the barracks.
"You'll be all right," he said.
"You'll like it. I know you will."
1934? You didn't have to join
for bleeding life, did you?
I don't know.
One thing leads to another, doesn't it?
CROW:
Hey, Fritz!
Give us the loan of your book
when you're finished.
I don't think you'll find it interesting.
Oh, incidentally...
...my name is Dorfmann,
Heinrich Dorfmann.
Go on. Is it really?
Yes.
Hey, sergeant. His name's Dorfmann,
Heinrich Dorfmann.
COBB: What's the matter, doc?
- Nothing, Mr. Cobb. Nothing.
- How are you feeling today?
- All right.
What do you care?
Anyway, why ask me?
You got it written down
in that little black book.
No, no. I have nothing written down,
Mr. Cobb. Nothing.
Yeah?
- Then why don't you show it to me?
- Any time you wish.
Right now, though, I have to have
a look at Gabriele.
What a crummy quack.
They're all alike.
TOWNS:
1600 hours, March 17th.
What... What about my wife, doctor?
No, don't think about it now.
She'll be all right. She'll be fine.
Do you have any kind of liquor
onboard?
Well, there's still some morphine left.
Wouldn't that be better?
RENAUD: I would like to save it
for when the pain gets worse.
GABRIELE:
Doctor.
TOWNS:
Cause of crash: Pilot error.
All right if we issue
the water ration now?
TOWNS:
Sure, go ahead.
- Work something out?
- Yes, I think so.
Could I have your attention, please?
We have something important
to say concerning our water supply.
Now, there is just under
a full measure for each of us here.
Dr. Renaud informs me that we shall
require, as an absolute minimum...
...one pint of water per person
per day. Is that right?
Yes, that's right.
Now, on the basis of the 15 gallons
in the emergency tank...
...that gives us roughly 10 to 11 days.
That is, of course, if we just sit here
and don't exert ourselves in any way.
Hey, Lightning, do you hear that?
You're not to wear yourself out.
As we are somewhat off our original
course, unless we are certain...
...of being picked up, we ought to make
do with the absolute minimum.
- Is that understood?
CROW: Hear, hear.
- Hear, hear.
COBB: Yeah.
- All right, Mr. Towns?
- Sounds reasonable.
If we have enough water
for all that time...
...couldn't we set aside
a little bit for washing?
- Washing?
BELLAMY: What a dumb thing.
Hey, captain.
What are we supposed to do for grub?
I reckon we ought to eat the monkey.
As far as food is concerned,
we seem to be singularly fortunate.
There happens to be an almost unlimited
supply of pressed dates on board.
CARLOS: Pressed dates?
CROW: All they're good for is regularity.
Yes, I quite agree.
They were being sent back from Jebel
because nobody would eat them.
Yes, I think that's about all.
CROW: That's about all?
That's enough, isn't it?
Thank you.
Excuse me, but shouldn't some kind
of rescue plane have seen us by now?
Don't worry. Someone will be along
even before you can think about lunch.
Our accounts people will be waiting
for my Jebel operation report...
...before they can get started
on the annual figures.
How big a hole will a busted-up
sky truck make in your annual figures?
There will be insurance, but insurance
companies move in mysterious ways.
Like God, of course,
but not half as generous.
- It's bound to be a setback.
- I imagine it will be.
Anyway, you don't have to worry.
They'll be here.
Oh, thank you.
It will work very well.
STANDISH:
The captain says our chances are good.
- A bit optimistic, aren't you?
- I don't think so.
Well, being 130 miles off-course
isn't exactly going to help.
It's not gonna stop them either.
[MUSIC PLAYS ON RADIO]
CROW:
Music while you work?
It's mine. I bought it.
We could use this thing
to find out what's happening.
Nobody told...
He did say something about it, Frank.
It's my fault. I should have...
COBB:
It's mine.
What's the matter with this thing?
CROW:
Look at Heinrich, will you?
Hey, shut that damn thing off!
What are you trying to prove?
I'm trying to remain reasonably clean.
You think this is some kind
of a picnic?
[MAN ON RADIO SPEAKING
IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE]
That's just a local station
relaying a political broadcast.
I don't think you'll find any stations
we'd want until nightfall.
Doctor, what was that chap
talking about, anyway?
Water conservation
and a five-year plan for irrigation.
A fat lot of use that is.
What this country needs
is a few more pubs.
Fold it up. Get this stuff furled.
Tie it on so it won't blow away.
HARRIS:
Get that line.
CROW:
Give a hand. Pull, man.
- This darn wind's too much.
HARRIS: Hold it, hold it.
HARRIS:
Don't let it get away.
Close it up! Come on!
Close it up! Okay, now, get aboard.
MORAN:
Push. Push.
Get in there, lock it up!
MORAN:
Here it comes!
TOWNS:
Get inside. Come on!
Let's get the door closed.
How are you feeling?
Better have some more of this.
Come on. Up you come.
[COUGHING]
I think you like this better than I do.
That's all right. As a matter of fact,
I've given it up.
How is he doing?
Oh, he's fine. We'll have him back
with his wife in no time.
But maybe too late.
No, you can't tell. Perhaps she'll
be better by the time you get there.
No, she would never send a cable.
My wife is a very modest person.
She'd send a cable
only if it were something bad.
Now, don't you worry.
We'll get you out of here.
He's right, Gabriele.
[MUSIC PLAYS ON RADIO]
The sandstorm will make it
more difficult, won't it?
What, finding us?
No, simplify things no end, old chap.
They'll bloody well give up.
Are you frightened?
You don't want to be despondent,
old man.
Wait till the water runs out,
then you can really start laughing.
They wouldn't really just give up looking,
would they?
Never.
Don't you worry, me old duck,
they'll find us.
Trouble is, we'll all be dead.
[CONNIE FRANCIS'
"SENZA FINE" PLAYS]
Give that to the boy for a little while.
To the boy.
Thank you.
TOWNS: I told Standish we wouldn 't
even have time to think about lunch.
That was three days ago.
This is our fifth day.
Most of them still believe it's only a
matter of time before we're picked up.
I wish I could be sure of that.
This heat is intolerable.
You should come here in the summer.
It's lovely.
Hey, sarge, look at this!
Hey, Abdul!
They went that way.
Abdul!
Your mates went flashing through here
on a herd of camels about an hour ago.
[MONKEY CHATTERS]
[PLANE ENGINES ROARING
IN THE DISTANCE]
STANDISH:
Can they see us?
BELLAMY: There it is.
HARRIS: Where?
CROW:
Yeah, I see it. Up there!
BELLAMY:
Hey! Down here!
- Down here!
CROW: Down here!
- Hey!
- Down here!
Down here!
- Come on!
CROW: Come down here!
HARRIS:
Hey, come on! Get down here!
- Here we are!
- Down here!
- Come on!
- Hey! Hey!
- Hey!
CROW: Come on!
WATSON: Come on down here!
STANDISH: Come down here!
BELLAMY: Come on!
CROW: Come back here!
It's pretty high.
Probably about 30,000.
More like 35. Couldn't be
the airlines, not in this area.
I don't think they could see
us even if they were looking for us.
BELLAMY: Hey!
CROW: Come on!
MORAN:
No, I suppose not.
MEN: Hey!
- All right, come on now, forget it.
- You're wasting time, they didn't see us.
- Bloody pilots.
All them flares do is make a lousy stink.
Might as well quit using them.
There'll be nothing.
Nobody could find us.
That's right, Standish. Nobody will.
HARRIS:
It's time we tried to march out of here.
Oh?
You've heard the others.
You know what they're thinking?
It's five days,
we've had two sandstorms...
- ...we're not sure they're even looking.
- They're looking.
Nevertheless, if we're
100 miles off-course...
Which way were you thinking
of marching, captain?
What is our nearest water point?
You can show me on your charts.
Well, yes, I can do that. How many
were you thinking of taking with you?
Well, apart from Sergeant Watson,
I don't know yet.
Well, perhaps now's
the time to find out.
Yes, perhaps it is.
- He can't walk out of here.
- No, of course he can't, but...
- He's entitled to try.
- He's not entitled to kill himself.
Oh, don't worry, Frank. I don't think
he's aware of the problems involved.
I'll get the maps.
HARRIS: Gentlemen, I made a decision
and I'd like you all to hear about it.
Now, I intend marching out of here.
The plan is to travel
at night when it's cool...
...and then rest as best
we can during the day.
We leave at sundown this evening.
Sergeant Watson, would you come here?
I'll take Sergeant Watson and anybody
else who wants to come with me.
Volunteers, give me your names...
...and we'll start making
the preparations.
MORAN:
Captain Harris?
You wanted to know our position.
If you'd like to come over here,
I'll show you.
Now, gentlemen, we're in
the middle of this circle...
...which runs through
the three water points.
[STUTTERING]
That's Marada in the north, Tazerbo
in the east and Namous in the south.
Marada is 106.
Say, London to Birmingham.
Marada's not a city,
it's a flea-bitten waterhole...
...with some borax quarries,
an oil well and a few lousy palm trees.
Well, that's our objective then, Marada.
Say, captain...
...you done much marching
in desert terrain?
- On exercises and that sort of thing.
- How far?
Ten or 15 miles.
Full equipment, of course.
- Plenty of water, I suppose?
- Sufficient.
[STUTTERING]
Look, I don't know what your practical
navigation's like, mine's not bad.
But I wouldn't march
10 paces from here.
In the daytime,
it's hitting 120 in the shade...
...and out there, there is no shade.
If you could take as much
as four pints a day with you...
- ...you'd still be sweating 10.
- We intend marching by night.
Fine, well, precisely in what direction?
- There are compasses, you know.
TOWNS: That's fine.
That's just fine.
Someday I'll have you tell me...
...what your compass was reading as
you passed the Jebel Haroudj Mountains.
They're mostly magnetic rock...
...and that sort of makes nonsense
out of the compass.
- One can navigate by the stars.
- If you marched 106 miles by the stars...
...and your calculations
were just one percent out...
...you could pass the Eiffel Tower
in daylight and never see it.
Look where Marada is.
There's absolutely n-n-noth...
- Nothing.
MORAN: Nothing. Nothing. Nothing.
If you miss this glorious
little bunch of trees...
...there's n-nothing between you
and the coast, and that's 500 miles.
Well, nobody's suggesting
that it was easy, Mr. Moran.
Tell me this, captain,
are you right-handed?
- Yes, as a matter of fact.
TOWNS: That means your right leg...
...is more developed than the other
and takes a longer step.
If you have an unreliable compass,
you just go around...
...in a left-handed circle
and there's nothing you can do about it.
You're right, Mr. Towns, but you're
talking about right-handed civilians.
In an officer's training corps...
...we military men are taught to march
with absolute precision.
I'd even send Sergeant Watson
here on ahead.
As it happens, he's left-handed.
Now, if you'll excuse me.
Come along, sergeant.
There's nothing you can do, Frank.
He goes by the book.
And you can't re-write it for him.
No.
Gentlemen.
I've been examining this aeroplane.
- You have?
- Yes. We have everything here...
...that we need to build a new one
and fly it out.
If you'd have a look
at my calculations.
- Don't know if you can read my writing.
- Are you trying to be funny?
- What did you say?
- I said, are you trying to be funny?
That is precisely the reaction
I'd expect from a man...
...of your obvious limitations.
What's happening to everybody?
Here. Here, you can have this.
And here you are, Ratbags.
I won't be needing this anymore.
I won't be needing this either.
Hey, you don't have a coat, do you?
Take mine. I won't be
needing it anymore.
- I don't think I should.
- What's wrong? That's a good coat.
It cost me 50 bucks in Marseilles.
It'd cost more than 100 in the States.
- If you really want me to...
- Oh, sure.
I gave the radio to the boy.
I won't be needing it anymore.
I'm going with Captain Harris.
I got something for you fellas too.
I got a lot of work shirts
I picked up cheap in Genoa.
They're good shirts.
I only washed them once.
Harris, don't you know better
than to tell Cobb he could go with you?
How far do you...? The man's crazy.
He wouldn't last a day out there.
- Cobb? I haven't even spoken to him.
- He seems to think he's going with you.
Does he? Well, I'll have
to disillusion him.
No, no, wait a minute. Wait a minute.
Just let it alone for a while.
Incidentally, I appreciate
your concern about me going...
...but I want you to know
I'm doing it all off my own bat.
It may be a gamble, but it can increase
your chances of being picked up.
Come on, sergeant.
HARRIS: What's happened?
WATSON: Must have twisted it.
HARRIS:
All right, let's get him over here.
Just tripped in the doorway, sir.
Must have caught it on something.
It seems there is nothing broken.
Perhaps you just sprained it.
Sorry we have no ice.
Looks as if you're for
the Sick Parade, sergeant.
Just my luck, sir.
I suppose I'd only be a burden to you.
- Well, it can't be helped now.
- Perhaps, if I could rest it tonight...
- ...I'd be all right tomorrow.
- I'm afraid we haven't time.
Don't you worry about it, sergeant.
Yes, sir.
What do you mean? You don't think
you're going out there on your own?
Oh, no. No, he's not.
He's not gonna go alone.
- I'm going with him. Isn't that right?
- I'm afraid not, old chap.
But I just told you.
I just told you I was going.
You're in no condition
to come with me.
Sorry, but I think it's better
that you stay here.
Why, I told you I was going!
I told you! I told you!
TOWNS: Take it easy, Cobb. Come on.
COBB: I told you!
- Let me go!
CROW: Easy, Cobb.
- Let me go!
CROW: Easy, Cobb, easy. Easy.
BELLAMY:
We don't want to hurt you.
COBB:
I told you!
[COBB SOBBING]
CROW:
We'll all end up like him, I'm betting.
Leave him now, captain.
I'll talk to him later.
Here.
Thank you.
- That an oil journal you're reading?
- No.
You're not in this line, then.
Line?
Well, yes. I mean drilling. Oil.
No, I'm a designer.
Oh, really? What, furniture,
that sort of thing?
No, Mr. Moran, aeroplanes.
I'm an aircraft designer.
Are you?
Then you really meant what you said
about getting this thing out of here.
Did you think I was joking, perhaps?
No, Mr. Dorfmann, that I didn't think.
You always have to spoil things
for me, don't you?
What did you have to tell the captain
I couldn't go along for?
- I didn't tell the captain anything.
- Yeah.
Well, you're the one had me fired
in Jebel, though, wasn't it?
Chief rigger, in charge of seven guys.
You think I couldn't handle
a crummy job like that?
All I had to do was hold onto
this lousy job for another six months.
I could have gone back
to the States as a chief.
But, no. Oh, no.
You had to spoil it for me.
- Well, you still could go back.
- Yeah, to what?
They ain't gonna let no headcase
run a drilling operation.
Nobody's describing you
as a headcase, Mr. Cobb.
That's what I came to tell you.
Now, you really must try
to understand that fatigue mentale...
...I mean, mental exhaustion...
...can happen to anyone.
But it doesn't last.
Well, I don't understand
all those fancy words.
I don't think those guys
that do the hiring do either.
Possibly not, but it will pass.
It will pass, I assure you.
CROW: I tell you now, mate,
we're better off right here...
...than traipsing
off on that bloody desert.
Do you think you can look
after Chucho?
I'm gonna go along
with Captain Harris.
- Well, well, yeah. But...
CROW: What's the matter with you?
I thought you were saving him
for some snotty-nosed Mexican kid.
Sure, but don't be jealous, Ratbags.
Maybe one day I find
a present for you too.
What's this "jaloose"?
Can't you learn to speak English?
Hey, why would you want
to go walking off into that?
- Didn't you see enough of that in Jebel?
- Who knows, Mike?
Maybe after a few days walking
we'll be better off than you are.
[MONKEY CHATTERS]
It's all right, Chucho.
It's all right, Chucho.
- I will be back. It's all right, Chucho.
- Easy, easy, easy.
[SPEAKS IN SPANISH]
You must be bloody daft, mate.
Anyway, maybe Capitn Harris
can teach me to speak...
...real good English
like you, my little Ratbags.
Stupid sod.
WATSON:
Thank you.
- Good, you all set?
- Yes, sir.
Welcome aboard.
I'm not as confident
that we won't make it as you...
...but I'd be grateful if you'd send up
some smoke at midday...
...for three days.
To help keep our bearings.
- Three days?
- Yes, we won't need it after that.
Ah.
Well, captain, we all wish you every...
Well, you know how all of us feel so...
Yes, well, come along.
It will be getting dark soon.
We might get lost.
Hey, Babozo, slow down.
- Remember you got flat feet.
- Adis, little Ratbags.
WATSON:
He's gone! He's gone!
He's gone.
Cobb's gone.
I don't understand. Can they see
him from up there or can't they?
Of course not, he's just
looking at the view.
Haven't you been up there? Lovely.
There's a big lake on the other side.
They got speedboats, everything.
Frank, he's got six hours' start on you.
How far could he get without water?
He didn't even stop to take
a canteen. And it's my fault.
- I should have watched him.
- Even if you find him, what can you do?
What can we do? You'll be just
as badly off as Harris would be.
I'm gonna bring him back, Lew.
DORFMANN:
You will see we have all we need:
Welding torches, steel cable,
all the tools we need.
For example, this here,
it all looks quite adequate.
- Why were they being returned?
- You know what engineers are like.
They just love shiny new tools, especially
if someone else is paying for them.
The prototype I have in mind would
have to fly at the first attempt.
To achieve that, Mr. Moran, requires
a pilot of quite outstanding capabilities.
Granted, this may not be the best
possible advertisement...
...but Frank Towns is one of the few
really great pilots left in this world.
- Oh, really?
- Yes, oh, really!
He flew in planes that were n-nothing
more than bits and pieces...
...before you went to school.
That's what is wrong. He's remembered
everything and learned nothing.
However, since he apparently finds it
necessary to run off into the desert...
...in pursuit of a lunatic who could be
of no practical value to this project...
...the question is entirely academic.
Don't you think so, Mr. Moran?
I agree. Entirely academic.
Get away! Get out of here!
Get out of here!
Get out! Get out!
- What's the matter?
- It's three minutes after 12.
Don't you want to start
the signals for Captain Harris?
And your Captain Towns?
[MONKEY CHATTERING]
Get out if it, you stinker!
It's Frank!
BELLAMY: Hey, skipper!
MORAN: Someone get some water.
I'll get it.
MORAN:
Frank!
CROW:
What happened to Cobb?
You all right?
We're stuck here, Lew.
You know that, don't you?
Frank, I talked to Dorfmann again.
L... l...
I realize that he... That he,
you know, irritates you.
But I do think he knows more
than we give him credit for.
Well, what's he dreamed up now?
Well, maybe he hasn't a leg to stand on,
I don't kn-kn-know.
But you're the only person
who's qualified to tell him so...
...and all I'm asking you
to do is to... Is to talk to him.
Well, just talk to him.
All right, I'll talk to him, Lew.
If it makes you happy, I'll talk to him.
DORFMANN:
There's no component problem.
The port boom is undamaged and
so are all the portside components.
If we remove the starboard wing
and attach it to the port boom...
...and perform a similar operation
on the tail plane...
...you'll see that we'll have
the basis of an entirely new...
...and aerodynamically sound structure.
- Is that understood?
- Oh, absolutely.
We need only to clear the port engine
of the sand that choked it in flight.
The Coffman starter is serviceable...
...and we should have no difficulty
starting up the engine.
If we don't waste too much fuel
on signals to Captain Harris...
...who's unlikely to be in any condition
to benefit from them...
...we shall have enough of that as well.
Most of the hydraulic fluid
has leaked away...
...but I worked out direct rod and
cable controls, so that is no problem.
All right, now, what are you going
to use for an undercarriage?
Our last landing rendered
the undercarriage unserviceable.
There is enough H-section
in the cargo monorail...
...and hull longerons to make up
the skid cradle for takeoff.
Skid cradle?
Well, skis, Mr. Moran. Skis.
To take off, we shall have
to move the final structure...
...to the valley beyond that far dune.
The surface there should be adequate.
Now, as to whether it will fly...
...as far as the general design factors
are concerned, there are no problems.
The center of gravity will allow us
to distribute the payload...
...that means ourselves, on both wings.
Now, wait a minute.
Are you suggesting we string people
on top of that wing...
...like sacks of potatoes?
They'll be behind fairings.
Never mind fairings!
We got an injured man in there.
The doctor says
he can't even be moved.
You're suggesting we tack
him onto this thing...
...and bounce him around
like a wrangler in a rodeo?
That is not what I had in mind,
Mr. Towns.
With the material
and personnel available...
...this project would require
at least 12 days.
How long did you say Mr. Scarnati
might be expected to live? Six days?
Perhaps less.
See, the problem does not even arise.
Mr. Scarnati will remain here.
Why, you really are a miserable...
Even with the men, the wing loading
will be half that of the sky truck.
We shall leave the hull, starboard boom,
undercarriage, chanson on the ground.
Now, any more questions?
Yeah! Yeah, I have a few.
Now, let's see if I've got this straight.
You're gonna unzip that starboard wing,
lift it up from the other side...
...and tag it onto this port boom.
Is that correct?
Well, yes. The tapers
will be the wrong way, but...
The tapers? Forget about the tapers!
You know what that wing weighs?
I would estimate it at something
just over a ton.
TOWNS: That's just about right.
There are eight of us.
Do you think you can lift
250 pounds, Mr. Dorfmann?
We use wedges and levers.
There is also a winch
and we can construct an A-frame.
All right, we'll have levers and wedges
and we'll throw in a winch.
This bunch is living on pressed dates
with a sip of water once in a while.
In a couple days, nobody's gonna have
the strength to do anything around here.
That is a very good point.
The heavy work will be done first.
The wing will be moved tonight.
- Tonight?
- Yes, I've worked out...
...a simple winding gear for use
with the starboard generator...
...which will keep the batteries charged
and provide lighting.
I see no immediate problems.
Unless you have some more questions,
I still have some calculations to make.
I thought it was all cut and dried.
You mean you have a few things
you haven't figured out yet?
Well, naturally I discontinued
my work...
...when you embarked
on your romantic search for Mr. Cobb.
We do need a pilot on this project...
...and frankly, I considered your chances
of survival quite remote.
However, now that you are with us
again, I can complete my calculations.
- I see no insoluble problems.
- Well, I'll give you one.
You say building this thing of yours
will take 12 days. Well, that's just fine.
If we're real lucky, we just have
enough water to last another 10.
We have several gallons
of antifreeze.
We can distill enough to provide
for another four or five days.
But I agree water will be
a critical factor.
Maybe we'll be dead before
you finish this and maybe we won't.
That's what you'd call a critical factor.
Let me tell you something
that makes nonsense out of this.
- Please do.
- I won't give you...
...the old veteran flyer routine,
Mr. Dorfmann.
I just want you to know I've
been flying for quite some time...
...and it hasn't always been
for crummy outfits like this one.
I'm sure you've had a colorful career.
But that's not the point.
All right, you know a whole lot more
than I do about aerodynamics...
...and drag coefficients
and stress factors. Okay, okay.
Your theory's fine. But you get this: That
engine's rated at 2000 horsepower...
...and if I was fool enough
to let it get started...
...it'd shake your pile of junk
into 1000 pieces...
...and cut us up into mincemeat
with the propeller.
I told you there'd be no difficulty
building this aeroplane.
I also told you it would require
an outstanding pilot to fly it.
The only thing outstanding about you,
Mr. Towns, is your stupidity!
- What did he expect?
- Shh.
- Easy, easy.
- What did you...?
You want me to throw
a conniption fit with his drawings?
Say he's a genius or something?
What good would that do when
I know the damn thing could never fly?
Excuse me, captain, but perhaps...
Perhaps there is one other thing.
The way it is now, some of these men
may not last as long as the water.
But they need to believe
that there is hope for them.
I don't know, Mr. Towns,
but maybe to build a thing like this...
...could be a lot of help.
We prove it can't fly
and get killed in the process?
What're you giving us, doc?
This is hard work.
These men can't stand hard work.
Watching each other die
could be even harder.
I've lost five men, Lew.
Gabriele in there, he's on the way.
That'll be six.
Are you...? Are you asking me
to kill the rest of them...
...trying to get a deathtrap
off the ground?
I don't know.
I don't know, Lew. It won't work.
It just can't work.
All right, maybe it can't.
Maybe it can't and we'll all be killed.
But if there's just one chance in
a thousand that he has got something...
...boy, I'd rather take it than just
sit around here waiting to die.
[CLATTERING]
DORFMANN:
You there, Mr. Crow.
We'll need those panels again.
You must be more careful.
All right, Heinrich, I'll watch it.
Oh, he's a lovely little fella,
a little ray of sunshine.
[HUMMING]
A slow, steady turn
is quite sufficient.
You'll be relieved in about half an hour.
Don't let that needle drop below 80.
That one there.
- Eighty, huh?
DORFMANN: That's right.
Now, we pull on three.
One, two, three.
[GRUNTING]
Shift, you wee mother...
Hey, Bellamy!
You big horse! Come on up here
and give me a hand.
Hang on, little Ratbags. I'm coming.
CROW:
My hand's tough enough.
You want me to leave this
in place, Frank?
Ask Mr. Dorfmann.
Leave both of the bolts in place until
the trestle is ready to take the weight.
As soon as you have finished that...
Mr. Moran, once you have
finished that...
...come to the tail end.
I'll mark out the assembly for you.
Hey. Hey. Hey, what are you
building, sandcastles?
[CROW MUMBLES INDISTINCTLY]
Hashish, huh?
Hubbly-bubbly. Hubbly-bubbly.
What's it for? Come on.
I'm constructing a still.
The sand will prevent the tube
from fracturing when I bend it.
That's very cunning.
Sometimes I wonder how you chaps
never won the war.
- War?
- You know:
[MIMICS AIRPLANE]
I wasn't involved.
That's it, then.
That's why they never won.
They didn't have old Heinrich.
[CROW MIMICS AIRPLANE]
DORFMANN: Oh, no, no! No, no! We
won't need that second winch now.
Go around and get that cable
over the apron.
We've got enough rope?
Go on! Don't keep Uncle Heinrich
waiting.
Double up. Double, double, double.
Mr. Watson?
Don't forget, save those bolts.
Very good.
We need a spanner.
Have you got a 3/8 spanner, darling?
Thank you, dear. Give us
a big, wet kiss, will you?
Look, knock it off, mate.
TOWNS:
All right, everything's set.
Easy, now.
[POUNDING]
TOWNS:
There, that's it.
TOWNS: Come on. Come on,
that's it. Watch your step.
DORFMANN:
Are we ready, Mr. Towns?
Yeah, I guess so.
DORFMANN:
All right.
Let's commence. Now!
[GRINDING]
TOWNS:
Keep the pressure up. That's it.
Come on, come on. Come on, now.
All right, a little slower.
Easy, now.
Don't let her loosen up!
Easy. Come on, pull harder, come on.
Hold it. Hold it there!
Enough!
Stop.
[COUGHING]
CROW:
Oh, Lord, I'm tired.
DORFMANN:
Harris!
Harris!
Well, sergeant...
You've been holding the fort?
Yes, sir.
This is full of sand.
Clean it out for me like a good chap?
Yes, sir.
TOWNS:
We've worked at it two nights now...
... but Dorfmann 's brainchild looks
less like an airplane...
... than it did when we started.
It's almost midday
and he's still working.
He's right about one thing, though.
The little men with the slide rules and
computers are going to inherit the Earth.
And it's kind of sad that Dorfmann
won 't be there to see it.
But then, I guess he
doesn 't need to see it.
He already knows it.
[WHISTLING]
DORFMANN:
Here. Here, is that any better?
I'll try it.
Mr. Standish...
...you can continue
with the cutting of the tail surfaces.
The tools are still in the hull.
Hey, Standish! Watch your diet.
You don't have to eat all those dates.
Save some for the scum up here.
Your wife's a lovely girl.
She died.
But you can't know that.
You there, we need help
with the welding.
All right. We're coming, men.
It's getting cold up here, anyway.
Sisters of mercy!
Your brother will play the violin again.
Did you...? Did you say something
to Captain Harris?
Now, what would I have said
to Captain Harris?
Oh, I don't know.
He's acting very funny.
Yeah, yeah.
[CHATTERING]
In here!
In here!
Here.
We are ready to proceed.
Come along. It is quite essential
to maintain our schedule.
Oh, I reckon we've been flogging
a dead horse long enough.
Well, of course you're right.
But couldn't we just rest
for another hour and then...
Absolutely not.
- Come on, let's get...
- Before we start talking...
...about who's gonna work
and when, let me tell you something.
Somebody's been stealing water
out of this tank.
BELLAMY:
Stealing the water? What do you mean?
Who in the hell would do
a thing like that? Skipper, you sure?
Damn! How much is gone?
TOWNS: I starting checking on it
yesterday. How do you like that?
Now, I don't even want to know
who it is, but I'm telling you this.
If it happens again and I see
who's doing it, I'll kill him.
DORFMANN:
It was me.
[ANGRY CHATTERING]
It was you?!
Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!
You... You bloody fool.
In any case, I didn't steal it.
I took it.
You took it?
The people here could die for lack
of water and you took it?
Yes.
Because whilst you have been sleeping
or pursuing your ridiculous interests...
...I have been working.
Since I was working harder
than you were...
...I also needed more water
than you did.
However, it won't happen again.
Because from now on
we shall all work equally hard.
- Is it clear now?
- No, it isn't.
But maybe I'm an idiot.
Maybe you'll have to explain it to me.
If you think being a boy wonder
entitles you to other people's water...
...you've got another thing coming.
Why did you have to steal it?
Why didn't you just come
and ask me for it?
Because you wouldn't have
given me any.
You're damn right I wouldn't!
Listen, if you're coming here
to tell me I shouldn't be unkind...
...to that miserable Kraut,
you're wasting your breath.
Now, don't tell me
you don't think he's crazy.
Well, suppose we agree
he's as mad as a hatter.
Do you think the rest of us aren't?
Do you think you've been
behaving rationally?
- Do you really think anyone would?
- All right, maybe not.
He isn't concerned about
getting out of here.
All he wants is
to see that thing fly.
He doesn't care who gets killed
in the process.
- Well, now...
- Well, nothing!
I've done my share of killing.
My score is five. What does
he want to do, improve on that?
- Back to that, are we?
- Yes...
I don't believe you're really
that concerned about those five men.
- No, I'm laughing myself sick.
- You're not laughing either.
What really gets you
is that maybe you're wrong.
And maybe that little dried-up
calculating machine down there...
...really does kn-know the answers.
Maybe Frank Towns, who's flown
every crate they've built...
...who could fly in and out
of a tennis court if he had to...
...maybe that great trailblazer's
nothing more than a back number now.
And maybe men like Dorfmann
can build machines...
...that can do Frank Towns' job for him.
And do it better.
You're getting to be quite a philosopher,
aren't you?
All right.
Let's suppose you have killed five men.
If it gives you any satisfaction
to sit here feeling sorry for yourself...
...well, that's your... That's fine!
But if you really mean it's your fault...
...it's up to you to get us out of here,
isn't it?
And if you're not too proud
to talk to Dorfmann...
...and you're half the pilot
you think you are, well, maybe you will!
"If"! All right.
If you hadn't been such a drunk...
...you might not have been a second-rate
navigator in a fifth-rate outfit.
If you hadn't stayed in your bunk
to kill that last bottle...
...you might have checked the engineer's
report. We might not be here.
All right?
Oh, Lew, I...
Oh, Lew.
MORAN: Why the hell isn't anyone
on the generator?
What's the point?
Come on, you drunken bum.
Let's get back to work.
STANDISH:
Don't worry. It'll be cut in time.
Think the Wright Brothers
would approve?
I can't see why not.
It's all free and clear up here, Heinrich.
What's the drill, Mr. Dorfmann?
- You're not yet ready for heavy work.
- I'd like to do something.
DORFMANN: We could use
Dr. Renaud down here.
Perhaps you could relieve him
at the generator.
Now, how about that?
Heinrich Schweitzer.
BELLAMY:
It's all set.
I think we are read...
I think we are ready to proceed.
All right? Go!
[GRUNTING]
BELLAMY:
We did it!
[MEN CHEERING]
Are we all ready?
Let's go!
Hold it, stop!
- All right.
- Well done, Watson.
TOWNS:
All right, now, everybody pull together.
Keep pulling. Keep going.
Keep pulling, boys.
Coming fine now. Keep it going.
Keep it going. That's it.
Don't let up with the slack.
Now, it's coming fine. Just fine.
Hold it!
Hold it!
Take it easy.
It's nearly there. Nearly.
Hold it!
CROW: I've got a story for the
Daily Mirror when I get back.
"How I stopped smoking
in three days."
DORFMANN:
Here, hold this.
You've done a wonderful job, Heinrich.
But will it fly?
Oh, come on, will you? Let's finish it.
BELLAMY:
It's all set up there.
You know, it's really
beginning to look like something.
Don't worry, Mr. Towns.
Helicopters don't look very elegant
either, but they fly reasonably well.
Really looks pretty good.
You suppose if we get out of here
we're gonna have extra leave coming?
From Arabco Oil?
We'll be lucky they don't take this
off our two months.
Tell you what though,
if ever we do get out of here alive...
...and I get my leave,
I'm going to stay put in Benghazi.
And fix myself up
with one of them Arab bints.
That's not all you'll fix yourself up with
in Benghazi. I've been there, mate.
Now, Australia.
This place I was at last year,
there's this bint.
Farida or something.
She did a sort of a dance.
You should have seen it.
I've woken up a few nights in a cold
sweat thinking about it, I can tell you.
Probably some poxed-up old bag
from Manchester.
Is this right?
What's the point of that?
Oh, I don't know.
I just thought I'd give it a name.
What sort of a name
is that supposed to be?
It's a bird.
The phoenix was a mythical bird
that burnt itself to ashes and rose...
I'm not bloody stupid, you know.
What's the matter, captain?
Smell the sea?
He's staggering around Benghazi,
you know, with this ugly, ugly broad.
Boxed out of his mind with Kickapoo
joy juice...
...or hashish or something or other.
[BELLAMY LAUGHING
AND COUGHING]
I've never seen anyone...
Kickapoo joy juice.
Shh. Hey! Hey! Hey! Shh!
What's wrong with him?
Get Mr. Towns.
[MAN YELLS IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE]
HARRIS:
Eleven... I count 12.
- They are way off any route.
- Yes.
Probably a razzia raiding party.
Better go and tell the men.
We don't want to rush into anything.
- Tell Mr. Towns to come up here.
- I already have.
There! Up there!
Arabs.
I'm sorry. That's all I know.
But I don't get it. They've got camels.
They could take us out of here.
If they are a raiding party,
they're outcasts from their own tribe...
...and so far beyond the law
that killing a few people like us...
...wouldn't mean a thing.
They are, in all probability, lost.
And just as short of water as we are.
They can only cause difficulties.
If we leave them alone they'll move on
and we can get back to work.
But why don't we just talk to them?
We can do that, can't we?
- They sound friendly enough.
- I wouldn't count on it.
No.
- But we have to find out.
- This time I'll go with you.
They're staying put.
Now, I'll take Sgt. Watson with me
and we'll go and tell...
Now, wait a minute.
I've already told you I'd be going.
What's the sense building this
if you're not here to drive?
- He's right, Frank.
- Nobody's going to drive this fool thing.
What?
Don't let's have an argument.
It's sublimely unimportant who goes out.
The sergeant and I have the best chance.
At first we'll say
there's only two of us.
We'll approach them in a circle
so if they prove to be unfriendly...
...they won't double back and find you.
I think the uniform might do the trick.
- Where's the sergeant?
- In the hull.
Right.
Makes sense, Frank.
Here you are, sergeant. Ready?
- What's the trouble, sergeant?
- Nothing. No trouble, sir.
Come along, then.
WATSON:
I'm not going.
- What was that?
- I'm not going!
Sergeant, I don't think
you've quite understood.
I'm giving you an order
to come with me.
Now, look here, old chap.
There's only water for three days.
This thing they're building won't work.
It's up to us to go to those Arabs
and get them to help us.
Nothing to be afraid of.
I'm not afraid, Mr. Harris.
Sergeant, I'm going to repeat my order.
If you refuse it...
...I'll assume you're willfully disobeying
a superior officer. Is that understood?
Don't let yourself down, Watson.
Report for duty and come with me.
You leave me no alternative but to place
you under arrest. Give me that revolver.
- No.
- You refuse?
Very well, sergeant.
Mr. Towns, I am going out on my own.
Now, I'd suggest that you
don't light any fires...
...and maintain absolute silence
until I report back.
I'll keep them quiet.
There won't be any lights.
- Right.
- I believe I go along with you.
- Thank you. That's not necessary.
RENAUD: Perhaps not...
...but I do speak a little Arabic.
Do you?
Well, not enough,
but these fellows will understand.
Well, maybe not as much
as you might suppose.
Anyway, I'd like to go with you.
[SPEAKS IN FRENCH]
I'm gonna wait another half-hour,
then I'm gonna go look.
- We can't just sit here.
- Look, Frank, Harris is n-no fool.
He may be a bit excessively British,
but he's no fool.
If those people can be induced
to help us, Harris will do it.
If the situation is a bit tricky
down there...
...and he's told them
there are just the two of them...
...he can't suddenly announce
there are seven more of us.
And if you and I go barging in
that'll really put the lid on it.
Yeah, maybe you're right.
I doubt it all the time.
CROW:
Hey!
STANDISH:
Captain Towns! Captain Towns!
CROW:
They've gone!
They've taken our fellows,
but they left a camel or something.
I can't see properly up there.
Frank, there's no...
Come on, Lew, we'd better have a look.
Camel's lame.
That's why they left it, it's lame.
Give me the...
He's dead, isn't he?
[RATTLING]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
DORFMANN: Mr. Towns and
I will be in the fuselage itself.
The heaviest men will need to be
inboard...
...the lighter men outside.
They'll lie flat...
...holding onto the ribs
of the windscreen.
We testing this engine today?
Mr. Dorfmann,
it's time we tested this engine.
- I think you can leave things to me.
- No, wait. Wait a minute.
I'm not forgetting you're the designer,
but if you want me to fly this thing...
This thing. This thing has a name.
- It's called an aeroplane.
- All right, it's an aeroplane.
I'd have a lot more respect for it
if I knew the engine worked.
The engine was running perfectly...
...until the sand blocked
the carburetor jets in flight.
There is no reason why
it shouldn't run as it did before.
Unless you haven't cleaned the jets
properly...
...in which case I'd advise you
to do it again.
Now listen, those sand screens are clear.
I've checked everything
under that cowling pretty thoroughly.
And if I'm to fly this machine
I'm gonna test run that engine today.
If we'd start this engine now...
...the vibration will put unnecessary
strain on the whole structure.
Furthermore, there are only
seven cartridges in the Coffman starter.
It could take four or five
to start the engine...
...leaving us only with two or three
when we are ready to depart.
I imagine even you will understand that
once we have used all seven cartridges...
...we have no further means
of starting this engine.
Any doubt about starting this engine,
now is the time to find out.
Mr. Towns.
You behave as if stupidity were a virtue.
Why is that?
TOWNS:
Lew, I'm gonna run up this engine.
A couple of you guys come up
and pull this prop through.
And that's an order.
No, you're not!
There's no point in going over it
all again.
Look, I've got them working
on the fairings...
...but we need you
for the control groupings.
There's nothing down on paper.
It's all in your head.
I'd hate to spoil the job
after all the work you've put in.
I know it's difficult for you
to get on with Frank Towns.
But you've got to understand.
He need...
He needs to feel he's doing something.
You don't leave him anything.
MORAN:
Do you want yours n-now?
Uh-huh.
- You ought to come in, it's freezing out.
- Yeah.
Well, now I've really balled things up,
haven't I?
- Dorfmann?
- Yeah. I've been thinking about this.
And I guess old Frank Towns just never
could stand being told what to do.
That's all there is to it.
You know, funny thing.
He was right about the engine too.
I guess I just wanted to make a point.
That's what really gets you about him,
he...
He always has to be right.
- You coming in?
- In a few minutes.
What else do you want me to say?
Nothing.
Leave me alone.
Tomorrow's the last day.
Then there'll only be what we get
from the still.
And that's not enough
to keep us all going.
Do you want them to fight over
the water? Is that what you want?
If we don't go back to work
we're going to die. All of us.
- Yes.
- Well, for God's sake, man...
- ...you're not a child, are you?
- Go away.
You told Towns he was behaving
as if stupidity was a virtue.
If he's making it into a virtue,
you're making it into a bloody science!
Ah, uh...
[CLEARS THROAT]
Lord Muck's woke up.
I want to talk to you.
No, I want to talk to all of you.
Mr. Towns, who is in authority here?
You are.
Very well, then.
Since I am in authority...
...I have decided to finish this plane
and make it fly.
We shall now go back to work.
Hallelujah.
The fairings are about ready...
...but you'll need to look
at the control linkages.
I'll be with you right after this here.
Well, is this the outfit you work for?
Becker Flugzeuge, yes.
I think I've heard of them.
Build all kinds of models?
Don't they build model planes?
The best.
I didn't know they produced
the big stuff too.
Well, the biggest we make is the Adler.
I think you'll find it on page 23.
The Adler has a two-meter wingspan.
But it's not one of my designs,
because it's a glider...
...and I work only on the power models.
Page 23?
Yes, I think it's 23.
What about the big stuff?
Is it a different department or what?
The biggest I've personally designed
is the Jaeger 250.
Could I have this a moment, please?
Thank you.
Wait, it's here. There it is.
Jaeger 250.
It won the prize for extended flight
at Frankfurt last year.
Extended... Extended flight?
Yes. The radio control also
is my design...
...and then on the opposite page there
there's another rather fine model.
It's called the Schwalbe. Right there.
Yes, yes, but I think what
Mr. Towns meant was the real thing.
How much designing
have you done on the real thing?
The real thing?
Well, yes. You know, like this.
Oh, no, no, no. You misunderstand.
We make nothing
but model aeroplanes.
You mean you've never designed
a full-sized aeroplane?
Full-size? No.
But then, of course,
the principles are the same.
Well, yes, they would be, wouldn't they?
Well, of course one encounters
different problems...
...but basically the principles
are the same.
I think I'd better check on
the control linkages.
He's crazy, Lew.
He builds toy aeroplanes.
He didn't even keep anything from us.
He really doesn't think
there's any difference.
Well, what are we going to tell
those guys out there? They...
What are we going to tell them, Lew?
Nothing.
We haven't enough water left...
...to stay alive.
We can die here...
...or we can die in that thing.
What's the matter?
Haven't you any curiosity left?
Wouldn't you like to know
how it feels to fly a toy aeroplane?
TOWNS:
Now what's he up to?
I don't know.
Maybe we'd better
have a word with him...
...about not saying anything
to the others.
I don't know why you keep
humoring him like that.
If the thing can't fly, it can't fly.
That's all there is to it.
Anything missing?
No, I don't think so.
I'm arranging the harness attachments.
You'll be lucky if these guys can walk
tomorrow, let alone pull this thing.
DORFMANN:
Nevertheless, it will have to be done.
The propeller itself
will provide the basic impetus.
The men will mainly be
to give it direction.
Well, why n-not n-now?
It's too dangerous in the dark.
Well, I think maybe you're right.
It's too risky.
Go on.
MORAN:
Oh, well, one other thing.
It might be better
not to mention to the others...
...about being a toy plane designer.
Toy plane designer?
Lew and I feel it might upset them.
Mr. Tow...
Mr. Towns.
A toy plane is something you wind up...
...and it rolls along the floor.
A model aeroplane
is something totally different.
Model aeroplanes
have been flying successfully...
...more than 50 years before the Wright
Brothers ever got off the ground.
They were not toy planes.
- All right.
- I didn't know that, Frank, did you?
DORFMANN:
Nevertheless, it is a fact.
And there is something else
you should remember, Mr. Towns.
A model plane has to fly itself.
There is no pilot to correct the trim.
Therefore, a model plane
has to be designed...
...for greater stability than what
you are pleased to call the real thing.
In 1851, Henson and Stringfellow
built a rubber-powered model...
...that flew 600 meters
before encountering an obstruction.
Aerofoil surfaces, lift
and drag coefficients...
...weight-thrust equations and
the whole pattern of modern aviation...
...originates from right there.
Well, where is he?
I'll go and get him.
Here he is.
Our friend Dorfmann's a bit impatient.
In 1851, Henson and Stringfellow...
...built a rubber-powered
m-model aircraft...
...that flew 600 meters
before encountering an obstruction.
Did you kn-know that, M-Mr. Towns?
That's great.
No, not great, but significant.
You understand, those are
the only cartridges we have.
If you fail with them
my work has been wasted.
The moment the engine fires,
throttle back.
Too much unnecessary vibration
could shake the structure to pieces.
Vibration must be kept to a minimum.
- Clear.
MORAN: Clear.
[ENGINE SPUTTERS]
That's number one.
Two.
What's wrong?
There ain't nothing wrong
with that engine.
Maybe he ain't giving it enough juice.
Three.
But he should know, shouldn't he?
He does know.
Wait. Wait!
[ENGINE SPUTTERS]
You're wasting the cartridges.
You have only three left.
I know that.
DORFMANN:
What are you doing?
I'm gonna use one cartridge, ignition off,
clean out the cylinders.
No!
What are you doing?
Stop! I forbid you!
I forbid you!
Do you hear me? I forbid you!
Come on, mate.
You'll make it.
Take it easy.
You bastard, Frank!
You bastard!
You made it!
Frank, you bastard!
DORFMANN:
Stop! Stop it!
Stop it!
Throttle back! I told you, stop it!
All right, Mr. Dorfmann, start pulling.
CROW:
All aboard.
[GRUNTING]
STANDISH:
I can't. I can't.
BELLAMY:
You did good, skipper.
Give it some slack. Come on, move!
That's it. That's it.
TOWNS:
Watch your step.
[ENGINE ROARS]
Go!
Go!
What the hell is that?
MAN 1: They ain't gonna try to land
that thing here, are they?
Boy, it sure as hell looks that way.
[MONKEY CHATTERING]
STANDISH:
Look at it! Look at it! Just look at it!
BELLAMY:
I've never seen anything so beautiful.
Seventeen days without a drink.
Boy, I wouldn't have believed
just plain water could look so good.
You never know, Frank.
I might become an addict.
BELLAMY: It's beautiful!
- Where'd they come from?
Those guys are either drunk or crazy.
How far did you say
that Henson and Stringfellow flew...
...that rubber-powered model
in 1851, Mr. Dorfmann?
Six hundred meters, Mr. Towns.
Is that meters or yards?
Meters, Mr. Towns, meters.
[CHEERING AND SHOUTING]
Mr. Moran, we going to
be on time in Benghazi?
I don't see why not, Gabriele.
I'll ask Captain Towns
to make a special point of it.
TOWNS: 1350. Radio out of service.
Voltage regulators inoperative.
Holding course for Benghazi.
Thanks, Mike.
I'll let you have them back.
- How's it going up there?
- Lousy.
Never taken off in one of Arabco's
old tubs without something being wrong.
This time we've got faulty regulators
and a duff radio.
Don't let that hold you up.
I've got two months' leave coming.
It's not the company's time
we're flying on.
Radios are no good anyway.
I got a radio.
Record players are nice, though.
Reliable.
Thank you, doctor.
- Cigarette?
- No, thank you.
It's good of you
to give the Army a lift.
Not at all.
That's not much good, is it, sergeant?
Stow it away with the cargo.
The number four control pulley
on the starboard side seems a bit noisy.
Perhaps binding a bit.
I couldn't see properly.
I don't feel it up here.
I'd better have a look.
Hand me the flashlight.
- Ready for another flying lesson?
- Haven't recovered from the last one.
Oh, now, I got her
all trimmed up for you.
Just hold her straight.
Straight and level, 20 degrees.
Here, I'll take that.
Straight. Now, don't over-control it.
Don't sway it.
Thank you very much.
Don't leave me holding
this thing forever, will you?
BILL:
Hi, skipper.
How are you?
Hey, Mr. Bill. Here, try this.
It's real good for you. One drink, the girl
comes out of the picture and bites you.
BILL:
Hey, skipper, you want some ouzo?
- Make you fly real good.
- No thanks, son. I'm driving.
I reckon I deserve this. Listening to that
wog music has given me a headache.
[HUMS]
TOWNS: The pulley's all right.
Squeaking a little, that's all.
- How are you getting along?
- Magnificently.
But I think someone up there
knows that I'm flying this thing.
That's quite a sandstorm
he's sending our way.
Yep, I've seen it.
So much for your weather report.
Let's have a look at that chart.
- If it closes in on us...
- This old bird will need a coat of paint.
- What alternate did you nominate?
- El Aouzzad.
Three mud huts and a poison well.
That's not a place, that's a disease.
Oh, now, Lew, don't worry. We're not
about to start turning to alternates yet.
We're bigger than
a little local sandstorm.
MORAN: Old Auntie at traffic
management's gonna have kittens.
A pilot is supposed to use his own
judgment, don't you think?
Gee, if it weren't for that...
I don't know, Lew, I suppose pilots are
just as good now as they ever were...
...but they sure don't live
the way we did.
Well, I can tell you
that there were times...
...when you took real pride
in just getting there.
Flying used to be fun.
It really did, Lew.
It used to be fun.
- You don't think perhaps we should...?
- Head for the alternate?
You better take a look out the window.
We're being followed.
There goes our alternate.
That stuff up ahead
looks like it's rising.
I think we'd better find out
just how high it does go.
I must say, without the radio,
I would have expected them...
...to turn for the alternate airport
by now.
Wouldn't you?
I don't know you, do I, boy?
Are you from the oil field?
My brother is there. Dorfmann.
I went to visit him on my holiday.
- You went to visit your brother in Jebel?
- Yes.
He's chief analytical geophysicist
for the Arabco Oil Company.
That pilot...
I would have thought he was a little
elderly to be flying without a co-pilot.
Wouldn't you?
That sand's a bastard, you know that?
A real bastard.
Hey, Standish. Not while the train's
in the station.
It's not gonna let up, Frank.
[ENGINE SPUTTERING]
There she goes.
Are we gonna put her down?
That right engine didn't make it,
the other one probably won't either.
We're gonna have to put her down
before this one quits.
Can you get any lift out of her at all?
Well, maybe enough to hop over
a few sand dunes.
I'm gonna have to make it
on the first try.
We going in with our wheels down?!
I'd give anything not to,
but we'll never get up again if I don't.
No, I suppose not.
STANDISH:
What's happening? What is it?
CROW: The lights are shorting out.
BELLAMY: It's gonna start a fire.
[ENGINE SPUTTERING]
TASSO:
The cargo!
BILL:
It's breaking apart!
[YELLING]
TOWNS:
Lew?
Lew?
Come on, come on. Get a flashlight.
CROW: Let me out of here.
Come on, run. Run!
BELLAMY:
It's gonna blow!
BELLAMY:
Get away from the plane!
[SPEAKING IN SPANISH]
Maria.
Maria!
Harris, keep those guys together.
She won't burn now.
Get them under the wing
before we lose somebody.
Lew, see if you can get
the emergency lighting...
There are three trapped at the back.
Three trapped in the back!
Dr. Renaud!
Dr. Renaud!
Dr. Renaud!
Come on. Come on!
MORAN: Careful.
TOWNS: All together now. Easy.
MORAN:
Here it comes.
RENAUD: The leg is entirely crushed.
See if you can find my bag.
- What about the other two back here?
- They've had it.
TOWNS:
They've what?
MORAN:
Frank.
BELLAMY:
Skipper!
What are we gonna do now?
Do you want to say something?
Like what? "Sorry"?
There. Make it secure, will you?
Captain, don't you think it's time
we started getting things organized?
Yes, you're right.
I'll get Sergeant Watson to make up
some containers for flares.
- We'll need some of your fuel.
- Leave that to Moran.
Maybe you'd better check on our water
supply and figure up some rationing.
[HAMMERING]
How much longer do you estimate
we'll have to be here?
I mean, I take it there will be
an air search before long.
Yes, well, we're not due
in Benghazi till... Well, now.
He's a right little organizer,
your captain.
Yeah, they're all the same.
Toffee-nosed bunch of gits.
You shouldn't have joined,
should you?
I never did. I was what they call
a boy soldier. Me dad joined me.
- Did he?
- Attendant at the public baths, he was.
November 21 st, 1934.
Me mum made me a sponge cake
for me birthday tea.
Next morning the old man walked me
down our street right into the barracks.
"You'll be all right," he said.
"You'll like it. I know you will."
1934? You didn't have to join
for bleeding life, did you?
I don't know.
One thing leads to another, doesn't it?
CROW:
Hey, Fritz!
Give us the loan of your book
when you're finished.
I don't think you'll find it interesting.
Oh, incidentally...
...my name is Dorfmann,
Heinrich Dorfmann.
Go on. Is it really?
Yes.
Hey, sergeant. His name's Dorfmann,
Heinrich Dorfmann.
COBB: What's the matter, doc?
- Nothing, Mr. Cobb. Nothing.
- How are you feeling today?
- All right.
What do you care?
Anyway, why ask me?
You got it written down
in that little black book.
No, no. I have nothing written down,
Mr. Cobb. Nothing.
Yeah?
- Then why don't you show it to me?
- Any time you wish.
Right now, though, I have to have
a look at Gabriele.
What a crummy quack.
They're all alike.
TOWNS:
1600 hours, March 17th.
What... What about my wife, doctor?
No, don't think about it now.
She'll be all right. She'll be fine.
Do you have any kind of liquor
onboard?
Well, there's still some morphine left.
Wouldn't that be better?
RENAUD: I would like to save it
for when the pain gets worse.
GABRIELE:
Doctor.
TOWNS:
Cause of crash: Pilot error.
All right if we issue
the water ration now?
TOWNS:
Sure, go ahead.
- Work something out?
- Yes, I think so.
Could I have your attention, please?
We have something important
to say concerning our water supply.
Now, there is just under
a full measure for each of us here.
Dr. Renaud informs me that we shall
require, as an absolute minimum...
...one pint of water per person
per day. Is that right?
Yes, that's right.
Now, on the basis of the 15 gallons
in the emergency tank...
...that gives us roughly 10 to 11 days.
That is, of course, if we just sit here
and don't exert ourselves in any way.
Hey, Lightning, do you hear that?
You're not to wear yourself out.
As we are somewhat off our original
course, unless we are certain...
...of being picked up, we ought to make
do with the absolute minimum.
- Is that understood?
CROW: Hear, hear.
- Hear, hear.
COBB: Yeah.
- All right, Mr. Towns?
- Sounds reasonable.
If we have enough water
for all that time...
...couldn't we set aside
a little bit for washing?
- Washing?
BELLAMY: What a dumb thing.
Hey, captain.
What are we supposed to do for grub?
I reckon we ought to eat the monkey.
As far as food is concerned,
we seem to be singularly fortunate.
There happens to be an almost unlimited
supply of pressed dates on board.
CARLOS: Pressed dates?
CROW: All they're good for is regularity.
Yes, I quite agree.
They were being sent back from Jebel
because nobody would eat them.
Yes, I think that's about all.
CROW: That's about all?
That's enough, isn't it?
Thank you.
Excuse me, but shouldn't some kind
of rescue plane have seen us by now?
Don't worry. Someone will be along
even before you can think about lunch.
Our accounts people will be waiting
for my Jebel operation report...
...before they can get started
on the annual figures.
How big a hole will a busted-up
sky truck make in your annual figures?
There will be insurance, but insurance
companies move in mysterious ways.
Like God, of course,
but not half as generous.
- It's bound to be a setback.
- I imagine it will be.
Anyway, you don't have to worry.
They'll be here.
Oh, thank you.
It will work very well.
STANDISH:
The captain says our chances are good.
- A bit optimistic, aren't you?
- I don't think so.
Well, being 130 miles off-course
isn't exactly going to help.
It's not gonna stop them either.
[MUSIC PLAYS ON RADIO]
CROW:
Music while you work?
It's mine. I bought it.
We could use this thing
to find out what's happening.
Nobody told...
He did say something about it, Frank.
It's my fault. I should have...
COBB:
It's mine.
What's the matter with this thing?
CROW:
Look at Heinrich, will you?
Hey, shut that damn thing off!
What are you trying to prove?
I'm trying to remain reasonably clean.
You think this is some kind
of a picnic?
[MAN ON RADIO SPEAKING
IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE]
That's just a local station
relaying a political broadcast.
I don't think you'll find any stations
we'd want until nightfall.
Doctor, what was that chap
talking about, anyway?
Water conservation
and a five-year plan for irrigation.
A fat lot of use that is.
What this country needs
is a few more pubs.
Fold it up. Get this stuff furled.
Tie it on so it won't blow away.
HARRIS:
Get that line.
CROW:
Give a hand. Pull, man.
- This darn wind's too much.
HARRIS: Hold it, hold it.
HARRIS:
Don't let it get away.
Close it up! Come on!
Close it up! Okay, now, get aboard.
MORAN:
Push. Push.
Get in there, lock it up!
MORAN:
Here it comes!
TOWNS:
Get inside. Come on!
Let's get the door closed.
How are you feeling?
Better have some more of this.
Come on. Up you come.
[COUGHING]
I think you like this better than I do.
That's all right. As a matter of fact,
I've given it up.
How is he doing?
Oh, he's fine. We'll have him back
with his wife in no time.
But maybe too late.
No, you can't tell. Perhaps she'll
be better by the time you get there.
No, she would never send a cable.
My wife is a very modest person.
She'd send a cable
only if it were something bad.
Now, don't you worry.
We'll get you out of here.
He's right, Gabriele.
[MUSIC PLAYS ON RADIO]
The sandstorm will make it
more difficult, won't it?
What, finding us?
No, simplify things no end, old chap.
They'll bloody well give up.
Are you frightened?
You don't want to be despondent,
old man.
Wait till the water runs out,
then you can really start laughing.
They wouldn't really just give up looking,
would they?
Never.
Don't you worry, me old duck,
they'll find us.
Trouble is, we'll all be dead.
[CONNIE FRANCIS'
"SENZA FINE" PLAYS]
Give that to the boy for a little while.
To the boy.
Thank you.
TOWNS: I told Standish we wouldn 't
even have time to think about lunch.
That was three days ago.
This is our fifth day.
Most of them still believe it's only a
matter of time before we're picked up.
I wish I could be sure of that.
This heat is intolerable.
You should come here in the summer.
It's lovely.
Hey, sarge, look at this!
Hey, Abdul!
They went that way.
Abdul!
Your mates went flashing through here
on a herd of camels about an hour ago.
[MONKEY CHATTERS]
[PLANE ENGINES ROARING
IN THE DISTANCE]
STANDISH:
Can they see us?
BELLAMY: There it is.
HARRIS: Where?
CROW:
Yeah, I see it. Up there!
BELLAMY:
Hey! Down here!
- Down here!
CROW: Down here!
- Hey!
- Down here!
Down here!
- Come on!
CROW: Come down here!
HARRIS:
Hey, come on! Get down here!
- Here we are!
- Down here!
- Come on!
- Hey! Hey!
- Hey!
CROW: Come on!
WATSON: Come on down here!
STANDISH: Come down here!
BELLAMY: Come on!
CROW: Come back here!
It's pretty high.
Probably about 30,000.
More like 35. Couldn't be
the airlines, not in this area.
I don't think they could see
us even if they were looking for us.
BELLAMY: Hey!
CROW: Come on!
MORAN:
No, I suppose not.
MEN: Hey!
- All right, come on now, forget it.
- You're wasting time, they didn't see us.
- Bloody pilots.
All them flares do is make a lousy stink.
Might as well quit using them.
There'll be nothing.
Nobody could find us.
That's right, Standish. Nobody will.
HARRIS:
It's time we tried to march out of here.
Oh?
You've heard the others.
You know what they're thinking?
It's five days,
we've had two sandstorms...
- ...we're not sure they're even looking.
- They're looking.
Nevertheless, if we're
100 miles off-course...
Which way were you thinking
of marching, captain?
What is our nearest water point?
You can show me on your charts.
Well, yes, I can do that. How many
were you thinking of taking with you?
Well, apart from Sergeant Watson,
I don't know yet.
Well, perhaps now's
the time to find out.
Yes, perhaps it is.
- He can't walk out of here.
- No, of course he can't, but...
- He's entitled to try.
- He's not entitled to kill himself.
Oh, don't worry, Frank. I don't think
he's aware of the problems involved.
I'll get the maps.
HARRIS: Gentlemen, I made a decision
and I'd like you all to hear about it.
Now, I intend marching out of here.
The plan is to travel
at night when it's cool...
...and then rest as best
we can during the day.
We leave at sundown this evening.
Sergeant Watson, would you come here?
I'll take Sergeant Watson and anybody
else who wants to come with me.
Volunteers, give me your names...
...and we'll start making
the preparations.
MORAN:
Captain Harris?
You wanted to know our position.
If you'd like to come over here,
I'll show you.
Now, gentlemen, we're in
the middle of this circle...
...which runs through
the three water points.
[STUTTERING]
That's Marada in the north, Tazerbo
in the east and Namous in the south.
Marada is 106.
Say, London to Birmingham.
Marada's not a city,
it's a flea-bitten waterhole...
...with some borax quarries,
an oil well and a few lousy palm trees.
Well, that's our objective then, Marada.
Say, captain...
...you done much marching
in desert terrain?
- On exercises and that sort of thing.
- How far?
Ten or 15 miles.
Full equipment, of course.
- Plenty of water, I suppose?
- Sufficient.
[STUTTERING]
Look, I don't know what your practical
navigation's like, mine's not bad.
But I wouldn't march
10 paces from here.
In the daytime,
it's hitting 120 in the shade...
...and out there, there is no shade.
If you could take as much
as four pints a day with you...
- ...you'd still be sweating 10.
- We intend marching by night.
Fine, well, precisely in what direction?
- There are compasses, you know.
TOWNS: That's fine.
That's just fine.
Someday I'll have you tell me...
...what your compass was reading as
you passed the Jebel Haroudj Mountains.
They're mostly magnetic rock...
...and that sort of makes nonsense
out of the compass.
- One can navigate by the stars.
- If you marched 106 miles by the stars...
...and your calculations
were just one percent out...
...you could pass the Eiffel Tower
in daylight and never see it.
Look where Marada is.
There's absolutely n-n-noth...
- Nothing.
MORAN: Nothing. Nothing. Nothing.
If you miss this glorious
little bunch of trees...
...there's n-nothing between you
and the coast, and that's 500 miles.
Well, nobody's suggesting
that it was easy, Mr. Moran.
Tell me this, captain,
are you right-handed?
- Yes, as a matter of fact.
TOWNS: That means your right leg...
...is more developed than the other
and takes a longer step.
If you have an unreliable compass,
you just go around...
...in a left-handed circle
and there's nothing you can do about it.
You're right, Mr. Towns, but you're
talking about right-handed civilians.
In an officer's training corps...
...we military men are taught to march
with absolute precision.
I'd even send Sergeant Watson
here on ahead.
As it happens, he's left-handed.
Now, if you'll excuse me.
Come along, sergeant.
There's nothing you can do, Frank.
He goes by the book.
And you can't re-write it for him.
No.
Gentlemen.
I've been examining this aeroplane.
- You have?
- Yes. We have everything here...
...that we need to build a new one
and fly it out.
If you'd have a look
at my calculations.
- Don't know if you can read my writing.
- Are you trying to be funny?
- What did you say?
- I said, are you trying to be funny?
That is precisely the reaction
I'd expect from a man...
...of your obvious limitations.
What's happening to everybody?
Here. Here, you can have this.
And here you are, Ratbags.
I won't be needing this anymore.
I won't be needing this either.
Hey, you don't have a coat, do you?
Take mine. I won't be
needing it anymore.
- I don't think I should.
- What's wrong? That's a good coat.
It cost me 50 bucks in Marseilles.
It'd cost more than 100 in the States.
- If you really want me to...
- Oh, sure.
I gave the radio to the boy.
I won't be needing it anymore.
I'm going with Captain Harris.
I got something for you fellas too.
I got a lot of work shirts
I picked up cheap in Genoa.
They're good shirts.
I only washed them once.
Harris, don't you know better
than to tell Cobb he could go with you?
How far do you...? The man's crazy.
He wouldn't last a day out there.
- Cobb? I haven't even spoken to him.
- He seems to think he's going with you.
Does he? Well, I'll have
to disillusion him.
No, no, wait a minute. Wait a minute.
Just let it alone for a while.
Incidentally, I appreciate
your concern about me going...
...but I want you to know
I'm doing it all off my own bat.
It may be a gamble, but it can increase
your chances of being picked up.
Come on, sergeant.
HARRIS: What's happened?
WATSON: Must have twisted it.
HARRIS:
All right, let's get him over here.
Just tripped in the doorway, sir.
Must have caught it on something.
It seems there is nothing broken.
Perhaps you just sprained it.
Sorry we have no ice.
Looks as if you're for
the Sick Parade, sergeant.
Just my luck, sir.
I suppose I'd only be a burden to you.
- Well, it can't be helped now.
- Perhaps, if I could rest it tonight...
- ...I'd be all right tomorrow.
- I'm afraid we haven't time.
Don't you worry about it, sergeant.
Yes, sir.
What do you mean? You don't think
you're going out there on your own?
Oh, no. No, he's not.
He's not gonna go alone.
- I'm going with him. Isn't that right?
- I'm afraid not, old chap.
But I just told you.
I just told you I was going.
You're in no condition
to come with me.
Sorry, but I think it's better
that you stay here.
Why, I told you I was going!
I told you! I told you!
TOWNS: Take it easy, Cobb. Come on.
COBB: I told you!
- Let me go!
CROW: Easy, Cobb.
- Let me go!
CROW: Easy, Cobb, easy. Easy.
BELLAMY:
We don't want to hurt you.
COBB:
I told you!
[COBB SOBBING]
CROW:
We'll all end up like him, I'm betting.
Leave him now, captain.
I'll talk to him later.
Here.
Thank you.
- That an oil journal you're reading?
- No.
You're not in this line, then.
Line?
Well, yes. I mean drilling. Oil.
No, I'm a designer.
Oh, really? What, furniture,
that sort of thing?
No, Mr. Moran, aeroplanes.
I'm an aircraft designer.
Are you?
Then you really meant what you said
about getting this thing out of here.
Did you think I was joking, perhaps?
No, Mr. Dorfmann, that I didn't think.
You always have to spoil things
for me, don't you?
What did you have to tell the captain
I couldn't go along for?
- I didn't tell the captain anything.
- Yeah.
Well, you're the one had me fired
in Jebel, though, wasn't it?
Chief rigger, in charge of seven guys.
You think I couldn't handle
a crummy job like that?
All I had to do was hold onto
this lousy job for another six months.
I could have gone back
to the States as a chief.
But, no. Oh, no.
You had to spoil it for me.
- Well, you still could go back.
- Yeah, to what?
They ain't gonna let no headcase
run a drilling operation.
Nobody's describing you
as a headcase, Mr. Cobb.
That's what I came to tell you.
Now, you really must try
to understand that fatigue mentale...
...I mean, mental exhaustion...
...can happen to anyone.
But it doesn't last.
Well, I don't understand
all those fancy words.
I don't think those guys
that do the hiring do either.
Possibly not, but it will pass.
It will pass, I assure you.
CROW: I tell you now, mate,
we're better off right here...
...than traipsing
off on that bloody desert.
Do you think you can look
after Chucho?
I'm gonna go along
with Captain Harris.
- Well, well, yeah. But...
CROW: What's the matter with you?
I thought you were saving him
for some snotty-nosed Mexican kid.
Sure, but don't be jealous, Ratbags.
Maybe one day I find
a present for you too.
What's this "jaloose"?
Can't you learn to speak English?
Hey, why would you want
to go walking off into that?
- Didn't you see enough of that in Jebel?
- Who knows, Mike?
Maybe after a few days walking
we'll be better off than you are.
[MONKEY CHATTERS]
It's all right, Chucho.
It's all right, Chucho.
- I will be back. It's all right, Chucho.
- Easy, easy, easy.
[SPEAKS IN SPANISH]
You must be bloody daft, mate.
Anyway, maybe Capitn Harris
can teach me to speak...
...real good English
like you, my little Ratbags.
Stupid sod.
WATSON:
Thank you.
- Good, you all set?
- Yes, sir.
Welcome aboard.
I'm not as confident
that we won't make it as you...
...but I'd be grateful if you'd send up
some smoke at midday...
...for three days.
To help keep our bearings.
- Three days?
- Yes, we won't need it after that.
Ah.
Well, captain, we all wish you every...
Well, you know how all of us feel so...
Yes, well, come along.
It will be getting dark soon.
We might get lost.
Hey, Babozo, slow down.
- Remember you got flat feet.
- Adis, little Ratbags.
WATSON:
He's gone! He's gone!
He's gone.
Cobb's gone.
I don't understand. Can they see
him from up there or can't they?
Of course not, he's just
looking at the view.
Haven't you been up there? Lovely.
There's a big lake on the other side.
They got speedboats, everything.
Frank, he's got six hours' start on you.
How far could he get without water?
He didn't even stop to take
a canteen. And it's my fault.
- I should have watched him.
- Even if you find him, what can you do?
What can we do? You'll be just
as badly off as Harris would be.
I'm gonna bring him back, Lew.
DORFMANN:
You will see we have all we need:
Welding torches, steel cable,
all the tools we need.
For example, this here,
it all looks quite adequate.
- Why were they being returned?
- You know what engineers are like.
They just love shiny new tools, especially
if someone else is paying for them.
The prototype I have in mind would
have to fly at the first attempt.
To achieve that, Mr. Moran, requires
a pilot of quite outstanding capabilities.
Granted, this may not be the best
possible advertisement...
...but Frank Towns is one of the few
really great pilots left in this world.
- Oh, really?
- Yes, oh, really!
He flew in planes that were n-nothing
more than bits and pieces...
...before you went to school.
That's what is wrong. He's remembered
everything and learned nothing.
However, since he apparently finds it
necessary to run off into the desert...
...in pursuit of a lunatic who could be
of no practical value to this project...
...the question is entirely academic.
Don't you think so, Mr. Moran?
I agree. Entirely academic.
Get away! Get out of here!
Get out of here!
Get out! Get out!
- What's the matter?
- It's three minutes after 12.
Don't you want to start
the signals for Captain Harris?
And your Captain Towns?
[MONKEY CHATTERING]
Get out if it, you stinker!
It's Frank!
BELLAMY: Hey, skipper!
MORAN: Someone get some water.
I'll get it.
MORAN:
Frank!
CROW:
What happened to Cobb?
You all right?
We're stuck here, Lew.
You know that, don't you?
Frank, I talked to Dorfmann again.
L... l...
I realize that he... That he,
you know, irritates you.
But I do think he knows more
than we give him credit for.
Well, what's he dreamed up now?
Well, maybe he hasn't a leg to stand on,
I don't kn-kn-know.
But you're the only person
who's qualified to tell him so...
...and all I'm asking you
to do is to... Is to talk to him.
Well, just talk to him.
All right, I'll talk to him, Lew.
If it makes you happy, I'll talk to him.
DORFMANN:
There's no component problem.
The port boom is undamaged and
so are all the portside components.
If we remove the starboard wing
and attach it to the port boom...
...and perform a similar operation
on the tail plane...
...you'll see that we'll have
the basis of an entirely new...
...and aerodynamically sound structure.
- Is that understood?
- Oh, absolutely.
We need only to clear the port engine
of the sand that choked it in flight.
The Coffman starter is serviceable...
...and we should have no difficulty
starting up the engine.
If we don't waste too much fuel
on signals to Captain Harris...
...who's unlikely to be in any condition
to benefit from them...
...we shall have enough of that as well.
Most of the hydraulic fluid
has leaked away...
...but I worked out direct rod and
cable controls, so that is no problem.
All right, now, what are you going
to use for an undercarriage?
Our last landing rendered
the undercarriage unserviceable.
There is enough H-section
in the cargo monorail...
...and hull longerons to make up
the skid cradle for takeoff.
Skid cradle?
Well, skis, Mr. Moran. Skis.
To take off, we shall have
to move the final structure...
...to the valley beyond that far dune.
The surface there should be adequate.
Now, as to whether it will fly...
...as far as the general design factors
are concerned, there are no problems.
The center of gravity will allow us
to distribute the payload...
...that means ourselves, on both wings.
Now, wait a minute.
Are you suggesting we string people
on top of that wing...
...like sacks of potatoes?
They'll be behind fairings.
Never mind fairings!
We got an injured man in there.
The doctor says
he can't even be moved.
You're suggesting we tack
him onto this thing...
...and bounce him around
like a wrangler in a rodeo?
That is not what I had in mind,
Mr. Towns.
With the material
and personnel available...
...this project would require
at least 12 days.
How long did you say Mr. Scarnati
might be expected to live? Six days?
Perhaps less.
See, the problem does not even arise.
Mr. Scarnati will remain here.
Why, you really are a miserable...
Even with the men, the wing loading
will be half that of the sky truck.
We shall leave the hull, starboard boom,
undercarriage, chanson on the ground.
Now, any more questions?
Yeah! Yeah, I have a few.
Now, let's see if I've got this straight.
You're gonna unzip that starboard wing,
lift it up from the other side...
...and tag it onto this port boom.
Is that correct?
Well, yes. The tapers
will be the wrong way, but...
The tapers? Forget about the tapers!
You know what that wing weighs?
I would estimate it at something
just over a ton.
TOWNS: That's just about right.
There are eight of us.
Do you think you can lift
250 pounds, Mr. Dorfmann?
We use wedges and levers.
There is also a winch
and we can construct an A-frame.
All right, we'll have levers and wedges
and we'll throw in a winch.
This bunch is living on pressed dates
with a sip of water once in a while.
In a couple days, nobody's gonna have
the strength to do anything around here.
That is a very good point.
The heavy work will be done first.
The wing will be moved tonight.
- Tonight?
- Yes, I've worked out...
...a simple winding gear for use
with the starboard generator...
...which will keep the batteries charged
and provide lighting.
I see no immediate problems.
Unless you have some more questions,
I still have some calculations to make.
I thought it was all cut and dried.
You mean you have a few things
you haven't figured out yet?
Well, naturally I discontinued
my work...
...when you embarked
on your romantic search for Mr. Cobb.
We do need a pilot on this project...
...and frankly, I considered your chances
of survival quite remote.
However, now that you are with us
again, I can complete my calculations.
- I see no insoluble problems.
- Well, I'll give you one.
You say building this thing of yours
will take 12 days. Well, that's just fine.
If we're real lucky, we just have
enough water to last another 10.
We have several gallons
of antifreeze.
We can distill enough to provide
for another four or five days.
But I agree water will be
a critical factor.
Maybe we'll be dead before
you finish this and maybe we won't.
That's what you'd call a critical factor.
Let me tell you something
that makes nonsense out of this.
- Please do.
- I won't give you...
...the old veteran flyer routine,
Mr. Dorfmann.
I just want you to know I've
been flying for quite some time...
...and it hasn't always been
for crummy outfits like this one.
I'm sure you've had a colorful career.
But that's not the point.
All right, you know a whole lot more
than I do about aerodynamics...
...and drag coefficients
and stress factors. Okay, okay.
Your theory's fine. But you get this: That
engine's rated at 2000 horsepower...
...and if I was fool enough
to let it get started...
...it'd shake your pile of junk
into 1000 pieces...
...and cut us up into mincemeat
with the propeller.
I told you there'd be no difficulty
building this aeroplane.
I also told you it would require
an outstanding pilot to fly it.
The only thing outstanding about you,
Mr. Towns, is your stupidity!
- What did he expect?
- Shh.
- Easy, easy.
- What did you...?
You want me to throw
a conniption fit with his drawings?
Say he's a genius or something?
What good would that do when
I know the damn thing could never fly?
Excuse me, captain, but perhaps...
Perhaps there is one other thing.
The way it is now, some of these men
may not last as long as the water.
But they need to believe
that there is hope for them.
I don't know, Mr. Towns,
but maybe to build a thing like this...
...could be a lot of help.
We prove it can't fly
and get killed in the process?
What're you giving us, doc?
This is hard work.
These men can't stand hard work.
Watching each other die
could be even harder.
I've lost five men, Lew.
Gabriele in there, he's on the way.
That'll be six.
Are you...? Are you asking me
to kill the rest of them...
...trying to get a deathtrap
off the ground?
I don't know.
I don't know, Lew. It won't work.
It just can't work.
All right, maybe it can't.
Maybe it can't and we'll all be killed.
But if there's just one chance in
a thousand that he has got something...
...boy, I'd rather take it than just
sit around here waiting to die.
[CLATTERING]
DORFMANN:
You there, Mr. Crow.
We'll need those panels again.
You must be more careful.
All right, Heinrich, I'll watch it.
Oh, he's a lovely little fella,
a little ray of sunshine.
[HUMMING]
A slow, steady turn
is quite sufficient.
You'll be relieved in about half an hour.
Don't let that needle drop below 80.
That one there.
- Eighty, huh?
DORFMANN: That's right.
Now, we pull on three.
One, two, three.
[GRUNTING]
Shift, you wee mother...
Hey, Bellamy!
You big horse! Come on up here
and give me a hand.
Hang on, little Ratbags. I'm coming.
CROW:
My hand's tough enough.
You want me to leave this
in place, Frank?
Ask Mr. Dorfmann.
Leave both of the bolts in place until
the trestle is ready to take the weight.
As soon as you have finished that...
Mr. Moran, once you have
finished that...
...come to the tail end.
I'll mark out the assembly for you.
Hey. Hey. Hey, what are you
building, sandcastles?
[CROW MUMBLES INDISTINCTLY]
Hashish, huh?
Hubbly-bubbly. Hubbly-bubbly.
What's it for? Come on.
I'm constructing a still.
The sand will prevent the tube
from fracturing when I bend it.
That's very cunning.
Sometimes I wonder how you chaps
never won the war.
- War?
- You know:
[MIMICS AIRPLANE]
I wasn't involved.
That's it, then.
That's why they never won.
They didn't have old Heinrich.
[CROW MIMICS AIRPLANE]
DORFMANN: Oh, no, no! No, no! We
won't need that second winch now.
Go around and get that cable
over the apron.
We've got enough rope?
Go on! Don't keep Uncle Heinrich
waiting.
Double up. Double, double, double.
Mr. Watson?
Don't forget, save those bolts.
Very good.
We need a spanner.
Have you got a 3/8 spanner, darling?
Thank you, dear. Give us
a big, wet kiss, will you?
Look, knock it off, mate.
TOWNS:
All right, everything's set.
Easy, now.
[POUNDING]
TOWNS:
There, that's it.
TOWNS: Come on. Come on,
that's it. Watch your step.
DORFMANN:
Are we ready, Mr. Towns?
Yeah, I guess so.
DORFMANN:
All right.
Let's commence. Now!
[GRINDING]
TOWNS:
Keep the pressure up. That's it.
Come on, come on. Come on, now.
All right, a little slower.
Easy, now.
Don't let her loosen up!
Easy. Come on, pull harder, come on.
Hold it. Hold it there!
Enough!
Stop.
[COUGHING]
CROW:
Oh, Lord, I'm tired.
DORFMANN:
Harris!
Harris!
Well, sergeant...
You've been holding the fort?
Yes, sir.
This is full of sand.
Clean it out for me like a good chap?
Yes, sir.
TOWNS:
We've worked at it two nights now...
... but Dorfmann 's brainchild looks
less like an airplane...
... than it did when we started.
It's almost midday
and he's still working.
He's right about one thing, though.
The little men with the slide rules and
computers are going to inherit the Earth.
And it's kind of sad that Dorfmann
won 't be there to see it.
But then, I guess he
doesn 't need to see it.
He already knows it.
[WHISTLING]
DORFMANN:
Here. Here, is that any better?
I'll try it.
Mr. Standish...
...you can continue
with the cutting of the tail surfaces.
The tools are still in the hull.
Hey, Standish! Watch your diet.
You don't have to eat all those dates.
Save some for the scum up here.
Your wife's a lovely girl.
She died.
But you can't know that.
You there, we need help
with the welding.
All right. We're coming, men.
It's getting cold up here, anyway.
Sisters of mercy!
Your brother will play the violin again.
Did you...? Did you say something
to Captain Harris?
Now, what would I have said
to Captain Harris?
Oh, I don't know.
He's acting very funny.
Yeah, yeah.
[CHATTERING]
In here!
In here!
Here.
We are ready to proceed.
Come along. It is quite essential
to maintain our schedule.
Oh, I reckon we've been flogging
a dead horse long enough.
Well, of course you're right.
But couldn't we just rest
for another hour and then...
Absolutely not.
- Come on, let's get...
- Before we start talking...
...about who's gonna work
and when, let me tell you something.
Somebody's been stealing water
out of this tank.
BELLAMY:
Stealing the water? What do you mean?
Who in the hell would do
a thing like that? Skipper, you sure?
Damn! How much is gone?
TOWNS: I starting checking on it
yesterday. How do you like that?
Now, I don't even want to know
who it is, but I'm telling you this.
If it happens again and I see
who's doing it, I'll kill him.
DORFMANN:
It was me.
[ANGRY CHATTERING]
It was you?!
Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!
You... You bloody fool.
In any case, I didn't steal it.
I took it.
You took it?
The people here could die for lack
of water and you took it?
Yes.
Because whilst you have been sleeping
or pursuing your ridiculous interests...
...I have been working.
Since I was working harder
than you were...
...I also needed more water
than you did.
However, it won't happen again.
Because from now on
we shall all work equally hard.
- Is it clear now?
- No, it isn't.
But maybe I'm an idiot.
Maybe you'll have to explain it to me.
If you think being a boy wonder
entitles you to other people's water...
...you've got another thing coming.
Why did you have to steal it?
Why didn't you just come
and ask me for it?
Because you wouldn't have
given me any.
You're damn right I wouldn't!
Listen, if you're coming here
to tell me I shouldn't be unkind...
...to that miserable Kraut,
you're wasting your breath.
Now, don't tell me
you don't think he's crazy.
Well, suppose we agree
he's as mad as a hatter.
Do you think the rest of us aren't?
Do you think you've been
behaving rationally?
- Do you really think anyone would?
- All right, maybe not.
He isn't concerned about
getting out of here.
All he wants is
to see that thing fly.
He doesn't care who gets killed
in the process.
- Well, now...
- Well, nothing!
I've done my share of killing.
My score is five. What does
he want to do, improve on that?
- Back to that, are we?
- Yes...
I don't believe you're really
that concerned about those five men.
- No, I'm laughing myself sick.
- You're not laughing either.
What really gets you
is that maybe you're wrong.
And maybe that little dried-up
calculating machine down there...
...really does kn-know the answers.
Maybe Frank Towns, who's flown
every crate they've built...
...who could fly in and out
of a tennis court if he had to...
...maybe that great trailblazer's
nothing more than a back number now.
And maybe men like Dorfmann
can build machines...
...that can do Frank Towns' job for him.
And do it better.
You're getting to be quite a philosopher,
aren't you?
All right.
Let's suppose you have killed five men.
If it gives you any satisfaction
to sit here feeling sorry for yourself...
...well, that's your... That's fine!
But if you really mean it's your fault...
...it's up to you to get us out of here,
isn't it?
And if you're not too proud
to talk to Dorfmann...
...and you're half the pilot
you think you are, well, maybe you will!
"If"! All right.
If you hadn't been such a drunk...
...you might not have been a second-rate
navigator in a fifth-rate outfit.
If you hadn't stayed in your bunk
to kill that last bottle...
...you might have checked the engineer's
report. We might not be here.
All right?
Oh, Lew, I...
Oh, Lew.
MORAN: Why the hell isn't anyone
on the generator?
What's the point?
Come on, you drunken bum.
Let's get back to work.
STANDISH:
Don't worry. It'll be cut in time.
Think the Wright Brothers
would approve?
I can't see why not.
It's all free and clear up here, Heinrich.
What's the drill, Mr. Dorfmann?
- You're not yet ready for heavy work.
- I'd like to do something.
DORFMANN: We could use
Dr. Renaud down here.
Perhaps you could relieve him
at the generator.
Now, how about that?
Heinrich Schweitzer.
BELLAMY:
It's all set.
I think we are read...
I think we are ready to proceed.
All right? Go!
[GRUNTING]
BELLAMY:
We did it!
[MEN CHEERING]
Are we all ready?
Let's go!
Hold it, stop!
- All right.
- Well done, Watson.
TOWNS:
All right, now, everybody pull together.
Keep pulling. Keep going.
Keep pulling, boys.
Coming fine now. Keep it going.
Keep it going. That's it.
Don't let up with the slack.
Now, it's coming fine. Just fine.
Hold it!
Hold it!
Take it easy.
It's nearly there. Nearly.
Hold it!
CROW: I've got a story for the
Daily Mirror when I get back.
"How I stopped smoking
in three days."
DORFMANN:
Here, hold this.
You've done a wonderful job, Heinrich.
But will it fly?
Oh, come on, will you? Let's finish it.
BELLAMY:
It's all set up there.
You know, it's really
beginning to look like something.
Don't worry, Mr. Towns.
Helicopters don't look very elegant
either, but they fly reasonably well.
Really looks pretty good.
You suppose if we get out of here
we're gonna have extra leave coming?
From Arabco Oil?
We'll be lucky they don't take this
off our two months.
Tell you what though,
if ever we do get out of here alive...
...and I get my leave,
I'm going to stay put in Benghazi.
And fix myself up
with one of them Arab bints.
That's not all you'll fix yourself up with
in Benghazi. I've been there, mate.
Now, Australia.
This place I was at last year,
there's this bint.
Farida or something.
She did a sort of a dance.
You should have seen it.
I've woken up a few nights in a cold
sweat thinking about it, I can tell you.
Probably some poxed-up old bag
from Manchester.
Is this right?
What's the point of that?
Oh, I don't know.
I just thought I'd give it a name.
What sort of a name
is that supposed to be?
It's a bird.
The phoenix was a mythical bird
that burnt itself to ashes and rose...
I'm not bloody stupid, you know.
What's the matter, captain?
Smell the sea?
He's staggering around Benghazi,
you know, with this ugly, ugly broad.
Boxed out of his mind with Kickapoo
joy juice...
...or hashish or something or other.
[BELLAMY LAUGHING
AND COUGHING]
I've never seen anyone...
Kickapoo joy juice.
Shh. Hey! Hey! Hey! Shh!
What's wrong with him?
Get Mr. Towns.
[MAN YELLS IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE]
HARRIS:
Eleven... I count 12.
- They are way off any route.
- Yes.
Probably a razzia raiding party.
Better go and tell the men.
We don't want to rush into anything.
- Tell Mr. Towns to come up here.
- I already have.
There! Up there!
Arabs.
I'm sorry. That's all I know.
But I don't get it. They've got camels.
They could take us out of here.
If they are a raiding party,
they're outcasts from their own tribe...
...and so far beyond the law
that killing a few people like us...
...wouldn't mean a thing.
They are, in all probability, lost.
And just as short of water as we are.
They can only cause difficulties.
If we leave them alone they'll move on
and we can get back to work.
But why don't we just talk to them?
We can do that, can't we?
- They sound friendly enough.
- I wouldn't count on it.
No.
- But we have to find out.
- This time I'll go with you.
They're staying put.
Now, I'll take Sgt. Watson with me
and we'll go and tell...
Now, wait a minute.
I've already told you I'd be going.
What's the sense building this
if you're not here to drive?
- He's right, Frank.
- Nobody's going to drive this fool thing.
What?
Don't let's have an argument.
It's sublimely unimportant who goes out.
The sergeant and I have the best chance.
At first we'll say
there's only two of us.
We'll approach them in a circle
so if they prove to be unfriendly...
...they won't double back and find you.
I think the uniform might do the trick.
- Where's the sergeant?
- In the hull.
Right.
Makes sense, Frank.
Here you are, sergeant. Ready?
- What's the trouble, sergeant?
- Nothing. No trouble, sir.
Come along, then.
WATSON:
I'm not going.
- What was that?
- I'm not going!
Sergeant, I don't think
you've quite understood.
I'm giving you an order
to come with me.
Now, look here, old chap.
There's only water for three days.
This thing they're building won't work.
It's up to us to go to those Arabs
and get them to help us.
Nothing to be afraid of.
I'm not afraid, Mr. Harris.
Sergeant, I'm going to repeat my order.
If you refuse it...
...I'll assume you're willfully disobeying
a superior officer. Is that understood?
Don't let yourself down, Watson.
Report for duty and come with me.
You leave me no alternative but to place
you under arrest. Give me that revolver.
- No.
- You refuse?
Very well, sergeant.
Mr. Towns, I am going out on my own.
Now, I'd suggest that you
don't light any fires...
...and maintain absolute silence
until I report back.
I'll keep them quiet.
There won't be any lights.
- Right.
- I believe I go along with you.
- Thank you. That's not necessary.
RENAUD: Perhaps not...
...but I do speak a little Arabic.
Do you?
Well, not enough,
but these fellows will understand.
Well, maybe not as much
as you might suppose.
Anyway, I'd like to go with you.
[SPEAKS IN FRENCH]
I'm gonna wait another half-hour,
then I'm gonna go look.
- We can't just sit here.
- Look, Frank, Harris is n-no fool.
He may be a bit excessively British,
but he's no fool.
If those people can be induced
to help us, Harris will do it.
If the situation is a bit tricky
down there...
...and he's told them
there are just the two of them...
...he can't suddenly announce
there are seven more of us.
And if you and I go barging in
that'll really put the lid on it.
Yeah, maybe you're right.
I doubt it all the time.
CROW:
Hey!
STANDISH:
Captain Towns! Captain Towns!
CROW:
They've gone!
They've taken our fellows,
but they left a camel or something.
I can't see properly up there.
Frank, there's no...
Come on, Lew, we'd better have a look.
Camel's lame.
That's why they left it, it's lame.
Give me the...
He's dead, isn't he?
[RATTLING]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
DORFMANN: Mr. Towns and
I will be in the fuselage itself.
The heaviest men will need to be
inboard...
...the lighter men outside.
They'll lie flat...
...holding onto the ribs
of the windscreen.
We testing this engine today?
Mr. Dorfmann,
it's time we tested this engine.
- I think you can leave things to me.
- No, wait. Wait a minute.
I'm not forgetting you're the designer,
but if you want me to fly this thing...
This thing. This thing has a name.
- It's called an aeroplane.
- All right, it's an aeroplane.
I'd have a lot more respect for it
if I knew the engine worked.
The engine was running perfectly...
...until the sand blocked
the carburetor jets in flight.
There is no reason why
it shouldn't run as it did before.
Unless you haven't cleaned the jets
properly...
...in which case I'd advise you
to do it again.
Now listen, those sand screens are clear.
I've checked everything
under that cowling pretty thoroughly.
And if I'm to fly this machine
I'm gonna test run that engine today.
If we'd start this engine now...
...the vibration will put unnecessary
strain on the whole structure.
Furthermore, there are only
seven cartridges in the Coffman starter.
It could take four or five
to start the engine...
...leaving us only with two or three
when we are ready to depart.
I imagine even you will understand that
once we have used all seven cartridges...
...we have no further means
of starting this engine.
Any doubt about starting this engine,
now is the time to find out.
Mr. Towns.
You behave as if stupidity were a virtue.
Why is that?
TOWNS:
Lew, I'm gonna run up this engine.
A couple of you guys come up
and pull this prop through.
And that's an order.
No, you're not!
There's no point in going over it
all again.
Look, I've got them working
on the fairings...
...but we need you
for the control groupings.
There's nothing down on paper.
It's all in your head.
I'd hate to spoil the job
after all the work you've put in.
I know it's difficult for you
to get on with Frank Towns.
But you've got to understand.
He need...
He needs to feel he's doing something.
You don't leave him anything.
MORAN:
Do you want yours n-now?
Uh-huh.
- You ought to come in, it's freezing out.
- Yeah.
Well, now I've really balled things up,
haven't I?
- Dorfmann?
- Yeah. I've been thinking about this.
And I guess old Frank Towns just never
could stand being told what to do.
That's all there is to it.
You know, funny thing.
He was right about the engine too.
I guess I just wanted to make a point.
That's what really gets you about him,
he...
He always has to be right.
- You coming in?
- In a few minutes.
What else do you want me to say?
Nothing.
Leave me alone.
Tomorrow's the last day.
Then there'll only be what we get
from the still.
And that's not enough
to keep us all going.
Do you want them to fight over
the water? Is that what you want?
If we don't go back to work
we're going to die. All of us.
- Yes.
- Well, for God's sake, man...
- ...you're not a child, are you?
- Go away.
You told Towns he was behaving
as if stupidity was a virtue.
If he's making it into a virtue,
you're making it into a bloody science!
Ah, uh...
[CLEARS THROAT]
Lord Muck's woke up.
I want to talk to you.
No, I want to talk to all of you.
Mr. Towns, who is in authority here?
You are.
Very well, then.
Since I am in authority...
...I have decided to finish this plane
and make it fly.
We shall now go back to work.
Hallelujah.
The fairings are about ready...
...but you'll need to look
at the control linkages.
I'll be with you right after this here.
Well, is this the outfit you work for?
Becker Flugzeuge, yes.
I think I've heard of them.
Build all kinds of models?
Don't they build model planes?
The best.
I didn't know they produced
the big stuff too.
Well, the biggest we make is the Adler.
I think you'll find it on page 23.
The Adler has a two-meter wingspan.
But it's not one of my designs,
because it's a glider...
...and I work only on the power models.
Page 23?
Yes, I think it's 23.
What about the big stuff?
Is it a different department or what?
The biggest I've personally designed
is the Jaeger 250.
Could I have this a moment, please?
Thank you.
Wait, it's here. There it is.
Jaeger 250.
It won the prize for extended flight
at Frankfurt last year.
Extended... Extended flight?
Yes. The radio control also
is my design...
...and then on the opposite page there
there's another rather fine model.
It's called the Schwalbe. Right there.
Yes, yes, but I think what
Mr. Towns meant was the real thing.
How much designing
have you done on the real thing?
The real thing?
Well, yes. You know, like this.
Oh, no, no, no. You misunderstand.
We make nothing
but model aeroplanes.
You mean you've never designed
a full-sized aeroplane?
Full-size? No.
But then, of course,
the principles are the same.
Well, yes, they would be, wouldn't they?
Well, of course one encounters
different problems...
...but basically the principles
are the same.
I think I'd better check on
the control linkages.
He's crazy, Lew.
He builds toy aeroplanes.
He didn't even keep anything from us.
He really doesn't think
there's any difference.
Well, what are we going to tell
those guys out there? They...
What are we going to tell them, Lew?
Nothing.
We haven't enough water left...
...to stay alive.
We can die here...
...or we can die in that thing.
What's the matter?
Haven't you any curiosity left?
Wouldn't you like to know
how it feels to fly a toy aeroplane?
TOWNS:
Now what's he up to?
I don't know.
Maybe we'd better
have a word with him...
...about not saying anything
to the others.
I don't know why you keep
humoring him like that.
If the thing can't fly, it can't fly.
That's all there is to it.
Anything missing?
No, I don't think so.
I'm arranging the harness attachments.
You'll be lucky if these guys can walk
tomorrow, let alone pull this thing.
DORFMANN:
Nevertheless, it will have to be done.
The propeller itself
will provide the basic impetus.
The men will mainly be
to give it direction.
Well, why n-not n-now?
It's too dangerous in the dark.
Well, I think maybe you're right.
It's too risky.
Go on.
MORAN:
Oh, well, one other thing.
It might be better
not to mention to the others...
...about being a toy plane designer.
Toy plane designer?
Lew and I feel it might upset them.
Mr. Tow...
Mr. Towns.
A toy plane is something you wind up...
...and it rolls along the floor.
A model aeroplane
is something totally different.
Model aeroplanes
have been flying successfully...
...more than 50 years before the Wright
Brothers ever got off the ground.
They were not toy planes.
- All right.
- I didn't know that, Frank, did you?
DORFMANN:
Nevertheless, it is a fact.
And there is something else
you should remember, Mr. Towns.
A model plane has to fly itself.
There is no pilot to correct the trim.
Therefore, a model plane
has to be designed...
...for greater stability than what
you are pleased to call the real thing.
In 1851, Henson and Stringfellow
built a rubber-powered model...
...that flew 600 meters
before encountering an obstruction.
Aerofoil surfaces, lift
and drag coefficients...
...weight-thrust equations and
the whole pattern of modern aviation...
...originates from right there.
Well, where is he?
I'll go and get him.
Here he is.
Our friend Dorfmann's a bit impatient.
In 1851, Henson and Stringfellow...
...built a rubber-powered
m-model aircraft...
...that flew 600 meters
before encountering an obstruction.
Did you kn-know that, M-Mr. Towns?
That's great.
No, not great, but significant.
You understand, those are
the only cartridges we have.
If you fail with them
my work has been wasted.
The moment the engine fires,
throttle back.
Too much unnecessary vibration
could shake the structure to pieces.
Vibration must be kept to a minimum.
- Clear.
MORAN: Clear.
[ENGINE SPUTTERS]
That's number one.
Two.
What's wrong?
There ain't nothing wrong
with that engine.
Maybe he ain't giving it enough juice.
Three.
But he should know, shouldn't he?
He does know.
Wait. Wait!
[ENGINE SPUTTERS]
You're wasting the cartridges.
You have only three left.
I know that.
DORFMANN:
What are you doing?
I'm gonna use one cartridge, ignition off,
clean out the cylinders.
No!
What are you doing?
Stop! I forbid you!
I forbid you!
Do you hear me? I forbid you!
Come on, mate.
You'll make it.
Take it easy.
You bastard, Frank!
You bastard!
You made it!
Frank, you bastard!
DORFMANN:
Stop! Stop it!
Stop it!
Throttle back! I told you, stop it!
All right, Mr. Dorfmann, start pulling.
CROW:
All aboard.
[GRUNTING]
STANDISH:
I can't. I can't.
BELLAMY:
You did good, skipper.
Give it some slack. Come on, move!
That's it. That's it.
TOWNS:
Watch your step.
[ENGINE ROARS]
Go!
Go!
What the hell is that?
MAN 1: They ain't gonna try to land
that thing here, are they?
Boy, it sure as hell looks that way.
[MONKEY CHATTERING]
STANDISH:
Look at it! Look at it! Just look at it!
BELLAMY:
I've never seen anything so beautiful.
Seventeen days without a drink.
Boy, I wouldn't have believed
just plain water could look so good.
You never know, Frank.
I might become an addict.
BELLAMY: It's beautiful!
- Where'd they come from?
Those guys are either drunk or crazy.
How far did you say
that Henson and Stringfellow flew...
...that rubber-powered model
in 1851, Mr. Dorfmann?
Six hundred meters, Mr. Towns.
Is that meters or yards?
Meters, Mr. Towns, meters.
[CHEERING AND SHOUTING]