Black Sheep Squadron (1976) s01e18 Episode Script
Five the Hard Way
That Zeke was waiting for you in the sun.
I wanted that victory today.
Before my father gets here.
Before what? I'm having a meeting with General MacArthur.
You can't solve everything with a good right hand, Greg.
Yes, I can.
He was all-state quarterback his junior year.
Dad, I was third string.
And you're an ace.
Dad, will you just stay out of this? You don't understand! Don't walk away from me! I'm gonna scrub your son from this mission and every mission until you leave, Mr.
French.
Baa Baa Black Sheep S01E18 - Five the Hard Way S01E18 - Five the Hard Way Hey, the transport plane is here.
Let's see if you got any mail today.
Ah, how you doing, fellows? How you doing? Which one of you is Pappy Boyington? Not here right now.
Anything I can do for you? Sam Gorman, Captain.
I'm a freelance reporter.
Lew Cline, my photographer.
Pappy'll be back in a few hours.
No problem, Captain.
I saw this article in the base newspaper.
Thought I'd come on over and do an update on it.
Let me see what this is.
"VMF 214 pilot gets fourth victory.
" "Lieutenant Donald French was credited today with his fourth combat victory.
"One more plane and he will become an American ace.
" Who put this in the paper? I sent it in.
What'd you do, Larry, appoint yourself PR officer? Yeah, why not? I do everything else around here.
It's a great angle, huh? Which one of you here is Don French? Right here.
Step right up, Don.
Glad to know you, Lieutenant.
Are you? Purple heart? I don't know about that.
That's a good twist.
I want to do a story about you.
I want to do a story about all of you.
"The making of an ace.
" Any place we can talk? I recommend a drink.
For everyone.
Let's go.
Can you guys quit shoving? Why do you call this place the Sheep Pen? Black Sheep.
Black Sheep's right.
That's a good handle.
I can use that.
Boyle, Robert A.
From Chicago.
Delighted to know you, Boyle.
- You, too.
Does he have to do that? - Later, Lew, later.
I think I can get a whole series of articles out of this.
From basic school through flight school to your fifth victory.
The folks at home'll love it.
Hey, hey, hey.
I got one question.
Why me? There are a lot of guys with four flags on their planes.
Sure, but why not you? 'Cause there's nothing special about me.
That's true.
French, don't fight it.
Come on, Don! You're gonna be a star! Well, there are a couple of tricks I've been using that work out.
Like when I'm diving on a Zeke.
I wait till the last minute to fire at it, so I don't give a lot of warning.
Genius.
Hey, Don, tell him about that time we were over Rendova.
This is a good one 'cause Don was on it that day.
Remember? There were three of 'em all around you, then I whipped in.
Picked two of 'em off, kind of opened it up for him.
You got two of 'em? Well, not exactly.
What I'm trying to tell you is Don was great that day.
I just kind of helped him out a little bit.
What he's trying to say is we're a team up there.
That's true.
It's really not important who gets the victory.
Which is why I think this whole thing is pretty stupid, if you want my opinion.
I'm gonna deal myself out of this hand right now.
Thanks, but no thanks, Mr.
Gorman.
Don, hold on.
Excuse me.
Don! Don.
Is there some kind of problem? I'm just not interested, all right? Newspapers aren't any big deal to me.
My father owns four of 'em in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Getting my name in the paper doesn't mean anything.
Maybe not to you, but it does to your father.
My father? What's he got to do with this? He sent me here.
I'm working for him.
My father set this up? He's proud of you, Don.
He's even coming out here.
Here? My father's coming here? - Yeah.
I was going to save it and let him surprise you.
That's a heck of a surprise.
I don't suppose it ever occurred to him that I may not want him here! He pulled a lot of strings to come.
He's going to have a hero in the family.
He wants everybody to know about it.
You get in touch with him and tell him He's on his way.
Should be here in the next day or two.
I knew there was something phony about all this.
Don, I don't know what the problem is, but I've got a job to do and your father's my boss.
I know you've got a job to do.
I'll tell you what I'm gonna do.
I'm gonna get number five before he arrives.
He can turn right around and fly off this rock! Swell, Don.
Let's get one with the rest of the planes in it.
Good.
Good.
You think so? - Oh, good job.
Hi, Pappy.
How you doing, Don? - How you doing, Major? Sam Gorman.
I'm working on a story, a human-interest yarn.
"The making of an ace.
" I would've checked it out with you first, but you weren't here.
I don't want you to take this personally Mr Gorman.
- Mr.
Gorman, but I have a policy about correspondents.
Look, fellas, why don't you meet me over there by those planes.
Yeah.
- Sure.
It's all part of the war, Major.
The folks at home want to read about what's going on out here.
Let me tell you what's going on out here.
My pilots are risking their lives everyday, and some of 'em are never gonna get back to the folks at home.
They're kids with a tough job to do.
It doesn't help them to get puffed up about it.
What do you mean? I mean I want them to keep their minds on one thing.
Staying alive.
Not getting their pictures in the newspaper.
So I want you and your photographer to pack up and get out of here.
Come on, Major.
You - I can.
And I am.
I want you on the afternoon courier plane, is that clear? Okay, you're the boss around here, I suppose.
There's no supposing about it.
You mind if I finish my interview? You started it, so you might as well finish it.
Just be on that plane.
We'd been assigned to fly combat patrol up the Slot.
Going out, we spotted a Japanese coastal freighter off Choiseul.
We raked it and left it burning.
But that's the only action we saw till we were a half hour from home.
A bandit at 8 o'clock low! I'm going down for him! Take Carter down with you, Don.
He's a lame duck, Pappy.
I can handle it! Don, watch out.
It's a trap! His partner's going down on you out of the sun.
I can't see it.
Somebody cover me.
The rest of you guys keep going.
I'll help Don out.
Pappy, I'm going after the other one.
Climb, Don, climb! Get some altitude and get out of there! Now let him go! We're low enough on fuel as it is.
Look, Pappy, I can still outrun him.
I'm gonna talk to you on the ground, French.
Now let's go home.
Don, you know what you just did? You went for a sucker's pitch.
I've told all you guys about that play 15 times.
Look, Pappy - You listen to me.
That Zeke was waiting for you in the sun.
I know he was! And I know I fell for it.
If you fall into it again, I'll ground you.
All right, all right! What do you want me to do, write it 50 times on the blackboard? Maybe that's just what you need.
Maybe that's what you need, Don.
Greg, I'm sorry.
It won't happen again.
I know you want number five, Don, but you'll never get it with bonehead stunts.
So take it easy.
You've got plenty of time.
That's just it.
I don't.
I wanted that victory today.
Before my father gets here.
Before what? Before my father gets here.
My father's coming.
I know that sounds crazy, but he owns newspapers and he knows a lot of people, and somehow or other, he's coming here.
Why didn't you tell me this before? I just found out about it yesterday, and I wanted to have number five before he got here.
Why? Is it his birthday? No.
If you want the truth, I thought it'd get rid of him quicker.
He wants to see me make ace.
You two don't get along? It's not that.
It's this place.
He doesn't belong here.
It's crazy.
What if it took 10 victories to be an ace, how hard do you think it'd be to get your fifth? I guess it'd be a lot easier.
Well, then don't become a numbers man.
You're a good fighter pilot, and that's what's important.
I almost got killed trying to get number five because somebody said it was the big one.
I don't want your dad taking you home in a bag.
Get over to the debriefing.
I'm Greg Boyington, Mr.
French.
Heard a lot about you, Major.
Colonel Lard insisted I use his plane.
I've got some things in there I thought you and your men might not be able to get over here.
Some wine, canned goods.
Thanks, I appreciate that.
Where's Don? Must be in his tent.
Don.
Still on your tail, huh? Dad.
How are you, son? Fine.
Where can I put this? Right here.
Dad.
Hey, hold it.
Let me look at you.
Well Well, what? Just Yeah.
Where can I sit down? Please.
If I'd known you needed a razor, I'd have brought you one.
I didn't expect you till tomorrow, or I would've It's all right.
Don.
Well.
It's hard to believe.
What? My son's a fighter pilot, and damn near an ace, to boot! What's hard to believe about that? You haven't gone and got number five already, have you? No.
Good.
How's the arm? Sam Gorman told me.
It's fine, good as new.
You should have a Purple Heart coming.
I've got a few connections I don't want you to do that, Dad.
- Don, you Dad, I'd really rather you don't do that! All right.
All right.
How's Mom? Your mother's fine.
She misses you.
She wishes you'd write.
It's teamwork that counts, Mr.
French.
Hot shots don't last very long around here.
Your son Don is a hell of a team player.
I believe in teamwork, but I believe in stars, too.
Don's always excelled.
Football, baseball, he was all-state quarterback his junior year.
I remember one game he played in the snow.
It was so slippery on the field What do we have here? Look at this prettiness.
- Get away from me.
I don't know, I've never seen him before.
But he's lovely, he's lovely! Look at this! Bring over a bottle of the cabernet, son.
Your dad was telling me about your football career.
All-state quarterback? We'll drink to that.
I never knew you were an all-state quarterback, Don.
You shouldn't keep things like that a secret.
I wasn't all-state.
I was third string.
Your first year.
I didn't make the team the first year.
Sophomore, then.
But senior year, that's when you excelled.
I was third-string, Dad! I only played in three games! Sit down and open the bottle.
I hate to lower the flaps on the party, but we've got to fly tomorrow, men.
Greg's right, Don.
You'd better get some sleep.
Let's go.
Goodnight.
Let's go.
Yeah, see you tomorrow.
Greg.
Must be a big job riding herd on all these young men.
Do you have any children of your own? A full squadron, Mr.
French.
Goodnight.
We were flying another patrol to Cape Alexander on Choiseul and back.
It was quiet until we'd made the Cape.
Bandits at 10 o'clock high! Let's pay our respects.
It was a Tojo patrol.
Apparently it was on its way home and low on gas and wasn 't anxious for a fight.
We caught most of 'em, but a few of 'em ran.
Don went on after them and got separated from the rest of us.
I got him! Where are you, Don? I'm coming, Pappy.
That monkey gave me a run for it, but I got him.
Great.
Hey, Gutterman, what were you doing leaving me alone like that? What happened, T.
J.
? You get lonely? Where's, Don? Yeah, we got to get that kill confirmed.
That'll be number five.
I heard on the radio, congratulations.
Number five, the big one! It's not confirmed yet, Dad.
Confirmed? - Yeah.
Did anybody see it? I don't know.
I was split off from the squadron.
What are you telling me, it doesn't count? It has to be confirmed.
- Then you're an ace? Dad, will you just stay out of this? You don't understand! Don't walk away from me! Leave him alone for a minute, Mr.
French.
Let me talk to him.
You want him out of here, don't you? He's my father.
So what? That doesn't mean you gotta like him.
Personally, I never agreed with anything my father did, and he never agreed with anything I did, either.
Did you love him? In between fistfights, sure.
He had the best right hand in the state of Washington.
Tell you what.
Why don't I just confirm that Zeke you got today, and your dad will take a hike out of here.
Well? Thanks, Greg, but It's like all that bull he was laying down in the Sheep's Pen about me being an all-state quarterback.
I don't have to make my life here a lie to please him.
Confirming that plane is just like another lie.
When I get the fifth one, it's gonna be on my terms.
On our terms.
For what it's worth, I think that's the right decision.
Now let's go get a drink and celebrate the one that nobody saw.
Look at the action on this thing.
Smooth as a kiss on a baby's cheek.
What's with you and that pearl-handled pop gun? Next you'll be sleeping with it under your pillow.
Didn't you know? I thought you did.
I'm a riverboat gambler, boy.
I can read your cards from the top side.
Put a hole in the ace of spades from fifty paces.
You're a hot dog.
That's right.
Excuse me.
I'm not interrupting anything, am I? No.
He seems to have his share of spunk.
Yeah, that's Carter's long suit.
Spunk and a big mouth.
An almost fatal combination.
Am I supposed to read something into that remark? He's my wingman.
He gets on my nerves sometimes.
You want me to write you an editorial? You can publish it next Sunday under "useless information.
" Yes.
Well, did you and Boyington get it all worked out? What do you mean? I was just wondering.
Look, Dad Don.
I don't want to be a problem to you here.
If I'm a problem, just tell me and I'll get going.
I'm supposed to be in Sydney in two days.
Yeah? - Yeah.
I'm having a meeting with General MacArthur.
Took me six months to arrange it.
So, is Boyington gonna confirm that Zeke? No.
He can, you know.
As a matter of fact, I looked it up in the Marine regs.
I've got a copy.
Squadron commanders can issue confirmations if they want to.
Look, Dad, you don't have to tell me how it is out here.
I've been out here six months.
You've been home writing about it.
Well I guess there's a whole lot of truth in that, isn't there? Say, son You want me to talk to him? I could put a little pressure on him.
It wouldn't work, Dad.
He's already offered to confirm the thing, only I wouldn't let him.
You did hit it, didn't you? Yeah.
So why not take the credit? Because the most important thing in my life right now is the respect of that man.
Next to that is the respect I get from the rest of these guys.
What about my - Don't say it, Dad.
Unless you're looking for a disappointment.
Well, this has certainly been a most unpleasant little exchange of information.
Yeah.
If you think I don't care about you, Don, then you're wrong.
All my life I've worked hard to give you what you wanted.
I guess l I can't change what I am, can I? I do love you.
Maybe not the way you would want it.
All I know is if you want something in this life, you've got to go out there and get it.
You told me you flamed that Japanese Zero.
You just shot down your fifth airplane.
I think you should take it.
You got a minute, Greg? Jerry, come on in.
I'll be with you in a second.
You gonna dig a hole in the floor here, or what? I wanted to talk to you about changing my wingman, Greg.
You wanna get rid of Boyle? He's been flying great cover.
You haven't picked any 20-millimeters out of your tail in a week.
Nothing's wrong with Boyle.
I'd like to have French for a while.
You know, just for old times' sake.
I mean, before Boyle came in, I was flying with French.
I just thought, for a while Until he gets number five? Let's get something straight here, Jerry.
Nobody in this outfit, nobody starts changing wingmen so he can goose up his victory slate.
You got that? Greg What about Carter? You want him to feel like dog meat? Well, Carter's a jerk.
All the time polishing that damn automatic.
He's not one of us.
That's none of your business.
Give him a chance.
He's only been here for two weeks.
That's not the point.
You want the point? Whether you like Carter or not, he's a member of this squadron.
Until somebody says he's not.
You got that? I'm trying to make him a team player.
How do you think he'll feel if I take him out from under Don's wing? Like he can't cut it.
That isn't the way to make him a team player, Jerry.
I've known Don for a long time.
Even before you found us.
I think he's gonna unravel.
What makes you think that, his father? Yeah.
He's trying to prove something to his father, and I'm afraid it could get him killed.
So you wanna be his wingman? I can help him get number five.
So can I.
What're you gonna do? Goodnight, Jerry.
Goodnight, Jerry.
Mr.
French.
You got a minute? I'm on my way to the flight line.
I don't want to miss the take off.
Maybe this hasn't occurred to you, Harold, but they sure as hell aren't gonna take off until I get there.
So spare me the time.
You know, I don't think I like that tone of voice.
You're not in a newsroom in Trenton, and in about five seconds, I'm going to take Don off the mission board.
You're going to do what? That is unless you and l can come to an understanding.
All right.
You were saying.
Right now, your son is about to get scratched.
Since he got word of your arrival, he's trying to be a one-man air show up there.
He thinks he's his own Air Force.
He's been disobeying direct flight instructions.
Every now and then, this can happen.
But when it becomes epidemic, I have to take action.
Meaning? Meaning there's a C-47 leaving here at 3:00 this afternoon, and I expect you to be on it.
Or I'm gonna scrub your son from this mission and every mission until you leave, Mr.
French.
Seems like we have one Pappy too many, doesn't it? You got it, Harold.
And since I'm the Pappy that's running this circus, you are the Pappy that's leaving.
I have connections.
- Good.
Maybe you can get me transferred to San Francisco where the Scotch is better and the women are more available.
Until that happens, I'm calling the shots out here.
Oh, Greg.
The only thing that's ever been important to me is Don's success.
And the only thing that I am interested in is the lives of my boys.
I had sort of hoped to tell MacArthur that I was there when Don got number five.
Unless it happens this morning, Mr.
French, you won't be around.
How about it, Harold? Does your boy stand down or not? I suppose I'll just have to leave then.
Do I at least get to say goodbye to my son? Why don't you wait until he gets back.
Then you get on that C-47 and go to Australia.
And don't forget to give my regards to General MacArthur.
That morning we were given an escort mission.
We were to rendezvous with a wing of B-17's over the Shortlands and take them in for a run on Kahili.
Bomber leader to Black Sheep One, we have visual contact with you at 10 Angels.
We'll start our run 20 miles south-southwest of Kahili, going down to Angels five.
Roger.
Black Sheep One to Black Sheep.
Move in tight and let Tojo come to us.
Here they come.
Tuck it in and stay close! Hold it down, Carter! I'm working them.
Pass on under.
Check.
You let him slip by me.
I'm sorry, Don.
I'll break off and bring him around again.
I'm on him now.
I'll handle it.
You go after the other one.
Let's stick together.
I said I can handle it.
Major I'm hit! Pappy, I've got trouble.
No wingman and two on me.
T.
J.
, Jerry, give Carter a hand! Hang in there, Carter.
Hurry up! Pappy, Carter's hit! Did he get out? I can 't tell.
His plane's breaking up.
He's out.
His chute's open.
T.
J.
, go down with him, make sure he's all right.
T.
J.
: Will do, Pappy.
What's this all about? I don't want to talk about it.
Please, just leave me alone.
But, Don Things like this happen Leave me alone! All right, son.
Major.
Yes.
Massage, sir.
Set it down, will you? Yes, sir.
Thank you.
Well, go on in.
Air Sea Rescue fished Carter out of the drink.
Who wants to make the announcement? Boyle, you make it.
You guys have something else on your minds? Well, now that they got Carter, maybe this doesn't matter.
Of course it matters.
Carter won't be back for two days and that leaves Don without a wingman tomorrow.
That is why you came here, isn't it? That has something to do with it.
Nobody wants to fly with him, right? Well, come on, you meatheads.
Speak up.
Okay, Greg.
I don't want him as my wingman.
And I guess the rest of us feel pretty much the same, we can't depend on him.
All the time breaking out, going hunting on his own.
And you all know why, don't you? It's because he's so worried about that fifth victory that he can't do anything right.
And you guys aren't exactly helping matters.
What'd we do? Somebody leaked it to the press.
That got Gorman out here.
Then you hype Gorman like a bunch of Hollywood press agents and that got Horrible Harold here.
Who's been looking into Don's cockpit every morning and every night.
No wonder he's choking.
I didn't have anything to do with this from the beginning.
I didn't want anything to do with this.
But we got a problem here.
What are we going to do? I'll tell you what we're not going to do.
We're not going to ostracize him, treat him like a leper, and then you wait for the 3:00 transport which will be here in about 20 minutes.
I already made arrangements to get Harold French on that C-47 and out of here.
And then we watch Don, we're gonna cover for him, and we nurse him back.
Any man in this unit who tells me he doesn't want to fly with him is gonna get one in the mouth.
Was there anything else, gentlemen? You can't solve everything with a good right hand, Greg.
Yes, I can.
Greg, I don't think he wants to leave.
Take my word for it.
At 3:00 he'll be gone.
Trust me.
Well, Harold, I'm looking forward to seeing Don.
I understand he's about to get number five.
Only if the good Major will let him fly.
Nonsense.
Of course he'll let him fly.
I thought you said he was leaving.
I made a mistake.
Anybody can make a mistake.
Can't I make a mistake? Yeah, sure.
- Well, I just made one.
Hey.
How you doing? Yeah.
I was thinking, if you're looking for a new wingman, we could team up for a couple of days till Carter gets back.
What happened, Bob, did you lose? Lose? What are you talking about? I got ears.
I heard about the meeting in Boyle's tent.
What'd you do, draw straws to see who had to fly with me? Listen, Don, that isn't the way it was.
And how was it? How was it? You guys think I rolled out on Carter.
You think I like the way it turned out.
I'm just telling you I'll fly with you.
If you don't want me, then one of the other guys I let Carter get hit.
Don't you guys see that? I was flying around up there like Sky King.
Trying to get my precious fifth victory.
I let my wingman get smoked.
It might help if you lay off the Scotch a little bit.
I don't need a nursemaid, Bob.
You want to hold somebody's hand, trot on over to the hospital and scare up a nurse.
How about a beer? - How you doing, T.
J.
? Pretty good.
Thanks.
You do that all by yourself? I was just gonna come look for you.
I'm here.
What can I do for you, Don? I'll show you what you can do for me.
Oh, my God.
This bar is closed, men.
I was just getting to thinking of myself as a man.
Which is a pretty hard thing to get to be.
Especially where I come from.
Just now you were acting like a 6 year old.
I hate him.
I hate him for what he does to me.
Every time I'm around him, I try so hard to make him proud.
Ain't that a crock? I mean, how can it mean so much to me? I don't know, Don, but you better to find out, 'cause until you do, you're not flying.
When I was in the fifth grade, I was in the crazy little play where this frog goes to the city and meets all kinds of animals who live there.
All the kids wanted to be the frog.
Anyway, I got to play the frog.
Must've been rigged 'cause as a fifth grader, I was lucky if I could find my way to class in the morning.
But I was the most important thing in the play.
And I studied like crazy to learn all the lines.
The hell with it.
Go on, Don.
I must have looked pretty stupid in the frog outfit but man, I was one proud little frog.
And the day of the play came and we were all backstage Iooking through the curtains trying to find our parents in the audience, and I looked, and he wasn't there.
He told me he wouldn't miss it, but he did, and you know why? Because he forgot.
Ain't that something? He just plum forgot.
But the show went on, and I did fine.
And I gotta tell you, Greg, as frogs go, I was pretty good.
But he missed it and it wasn't until much later when I was playing football that I realized why.
You see, he was only He was only interested in the things that I did that reflected well on him.
Being the father of a frog didn't impress him much.
But being the father of a quarterback did.
All-state quarterback.
What do you want, Don? This isn't a gridiron.
This isn't a fifth-grade play.
We got us a real shooting war out here.
I don't know, Greg.
I guess I just wanted to remember the lines when he finally came and I can't think of one.
You're too old to worry about it, Don.
And you're not, right? 'Cause you care about all of us.
And you want us to be what's best for us.
So that's what that was all about.
You were looking for a spanking.
Let me give you a tip, Don.
You ever swing at me again, and I'm gonna give you a hard place to sit down, son.
What do I do, Greg? I'm not your father, Don.
Don't try and make me a substitute, 'cause I'll only disappoint you.
Maybe it's overdue, but I think it's time you got it straightened out one way or the other.
Thanks, Greg.
Trying to get Donald together with the daughter.
She was crazy about him.
Absolutely crazy about him.
He didn't care about her.
Not one bit.
Hi, Don.
Excuse me, Colonel, but could I have a moment with my father? Well, certainly.
Thanks for the talk.
See you later, chum.
You're doing nice work here, Don, very nice.
Keep it up.
He probably hasn't read the log for this morning.
My wingman went swimming.
Well, I've been doing a little P.
R.
for you, son.
Colonel Lard's a real comer.
Probably be getting his Brig Star shortly.
I think it would be nice after you get number five to get transferred onto his staff.
You do, huh? Yes, I do.
Something wrong? - Yeah, Dad, plenty.
I'll tell you what.
Why don't you just pack up your little portable, and your chess set and get off of this island.
Now, hold the phone.
No, you hold the phone.
I don't want you here.
You missed too many things that were important to me.
Now you're just gonna have to miss something that's important to you.
I came 10,000 miles to see you on this island.
You're gonna throw me off? You didn't come 10,000 miles to see me.
You came 10,000 miles to see MacArthur, and you squeezed me in on the way.
The only place where I've ever fit in is here.
And it's never mattered whether or not I flew a hot stick.
All that mattered was that I came home after every mission.
Now all of a sudden it matters, and because of it, one of our guys may not come home.
So, Dad, you're just gonna have to get off this island.
And so help me, if you don't, I'm gonna give it a real shot at throwing you off.
So, I suppose you feel like a real man.
No, Dad.
Just came to say goodbye.
I was awake all night thinking about everything.
I don't know what to say.
I don't have it all straight yet.
But when this is over, when you come back, I'd sure like to see you.
A new air ace in the South Pacific.
Lieutenant Donald French scores his fifth air victory over the Solomon Slot during a routine patrol with his squadron VMF 214.
Under the command of triple ace Greg Boyington, young French and his squadron jumped a zero formation out of Choiseul.
In an air contest which lasted but seconds, French got his fifth victory.
Son of a newspaper publisher in New Jersey, Donald French becomes the South Pacific's 18th ace.
A man to make us all proud.
I wanted that victory today.
Before my father gets here.
Before what? I'm having a meeting with General MacArthur.
You can't solve everything with a good right hand, Greg.
Yes, I can.
He was all-state quarterback his junior year.
Dad, I was third string.
And you're an ace.
Dad, will you just stay out of this? You don't understand! Don't walk away from me! I'm gonna scrub your son from this mission and every mission until you leave, Mr.
French.
Baa Baa Black Sheep S01E18 - Five the Hard Way S01E18 - Five the Hard Way Hey, the transport plane is here.
Let's see if you got any mail today.
Ah, how you doing, fellows? How you doing? Which one of you is Pappy Boyington? Not here right now.
Anything I can do for you? Sam Gorman, Captain.
I'm a freelance reporter.
Lew Cline, my photographer.
Pappy'll be back in a few hours.
No problem, Captain.
I saw this article in the base newspaper.
Thought I'd come on over and do an update on it.
Let me see what this is.
"VMF 214 pilot gets fourth victory.
" "Lieutenant Donald French was credited today with his fourth combat victory.
"One more plane and he will become an American ace.
" Who put this in the paper? I sent it in.
What'd you do, Larry, appoint yourself PR officer? Yeah, why not? I do everything else around here.
It's a great angle, huh? Which one of you here is Don French? Right here.
Step right up, Don.
Glad to know you, Lieutenant.
Are you? Purple heart? I don't know about that.
That's a good twist.
I want to do a story about you.
I want to do a story about all of you.
"The making of an ace.
" Any place we can talk? I recommend a drink.
For everyone.
Let's go.
Can you guys quit shoving? Why do you call this place the Sheep Pen? Black Sheep.
Black Sheep's right.
That's a good handle.
I can use that.
Boyle, Robert A.
From Chicago.
Delighted to know you, Boyle.
- You, too.
Does he have to do that? - Later, Lew, later.
I think I can get a whole series of articles out of this.
From basic school through flight school to your fifth victory.
The folks at home'll love it.
Hey, hey, hey.
I got one question.
Why me? There are a lot of guys with four flags on their planes.
Sure, but why not you? 'Cause there's nothing special about me.
That's true.
French, don't fight it.
Come on, Don! You're gonna be a star! Well, there are a couple of tricks I've been using that work out.
Like when I'm diving on a Zeke.
I wait till the last minute to fire at it, so I don't give a lot of warning.
Genius.
Hey, Don, tell him about that time we were over Rendova.
This is a good one 'cause Don was on it that day.
Remember? There were three of 'em all around you, then I whipped in.
Picked two of 'em off, kind of opened it up for him.
You got two of 'em? Well, not exactly.
What I'm trying to tell you is Don was great that day.
I just kind of helped him out a little bit.
What he's trying to say is we're a team up there.
That's true.
It's really not important who gets the victory.
Which is why I think this whole thing is pretty stupid, if you want my opinion.
I'm gonna deal myself out of this hand right now.
Thanks, but no thanks, Mr.
Gorman.
Don, hold on.
Excuse me.
Don! Don.
Is there some kind of problem? I'm just not interested, all right? Newspapers aren't any big deal to me.
My father owns four of 'em in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Getting my name in the paper doesn't mean anything.
Maybe not to you, but it does to your father.
My father? What's he got to do with this? He sent me here.
I'm working for him.
My father set this up? He's proud of you, Don.
He's even coming out here.
Here? My father's coming here? - Yeah.
I was going to save it and let him surprise you.
That's a heck of a surprise.
I don't suppose it ever occurred to him that I may not want him here! He pulled a lot of strings to come.
He's going to have a hero in the family.
He wants everybody to know about it.
You get in touch with him and tell him He's on his way.
Should be here in the next day or two.
I knew there was something phony about all this.
Don, I don't know what the problem is, but I've got a job to do and your father's my boss.
I know you've got a job to do.
I'll tell you what I'm gonna do.
I'm gonna get number five before he arrives.
He can turn right around and fly off this rock! Swell, Don.
Let's get one with the rest of the planes in it.
Good.
Good.
You think so? - Oh, good job.
Hi, Pappy.
How you doing, Don? - How you doing, Major? Sam Gorman.
I'm working on a story, a human-interest yarn.
"The making of an ace.
" I would've checked it out with you first, but you weren't here.
I don't want you to take this personally Mr Gorman.
- Mr.
Gorman, but I have a policy about correspondents.
Look, fellas, why don't you meet me over there by those planes.
Yeah.
- Sure.
It's all part of the war, Major.
The folks at home want to read about what's going on out here.
Let me tell you what's going on out here.
My pilots are risking their lives everyday, and some of 'em are never gonna get back to the folks at home.
They're kids with a tough job to do.
It doesn't help them to get puffed up about it.
What do you mean? I mean I want them to keep their minds on one thing.
Staying alive.
Not getting their pictures in the newspaper.
So I want you and your photographer to pack up and get out of here.
Come on, Major.
You - I can.
And I am.
I want you on the afternoon courier plane, is that clear? Okay, you're the boss around here, I suppose.
There's no supposing about it.
You mind if I finish my interview? You started it, so you might as well finish it.
Just be on that plane.
We'd been assigned to fly combat patrol up the Slot.
Going out, we spotted a Japanese coastal freighter off Choiseul.
We raked it and left it burning.
But that's the only action we saw till we were a half hour from home.
A bandit at 8 o'clock low! I'm going down for him! Take Carter down with you, Don.
He's a lame duck, Pappy.
I can handle it! Don, watch out.
It's a trap! His partner's going down on you out of the sun.
I can't see it.
Somebody cover me.
The rest of you guys keep going.
I'll help Don out.
Pappy, I'm going after the other one.
Climb, Don, climb! Get some altitude and get out of there! Now let him go! We're low enough on fuel as it is.
Look, Pappy, I can still outrun him.
I'm gonna talk to you on the ground, French.
Now let's go home.
Don, you know what you just did? You went for a sucker's pitch.
I've told all you guys about that play 15 times.
Look, Pappy - You listen to me.
That Zeke was waiting for you in the sun.
I know he was! And I know I fell for it.
If you fall into it again, I'll ground you.
All right, all right! What do you want me to do, write it 50 times on the blackboard? Maybe that's just what you need.
Maybe that's what you need, Don.
Greg, I'm sorry.
It won't happen again.
I know you want number five, Don, but you'll never get it with bonehead stunts.
So take it easy.
You've got plenty of time.
That's just it.
I don't.
I wanted that victory today.
Before my father gets here.
Before what? Before my father gets here.
My father's coming.
I know that sounds crazy, but he owns newspapers and he knows a lot of people, and somehow or other, he's coming here.
Why didn't you tell me this before? I just found out about it yesterday, and I wanted to have number five before he got here.
Why? Is it his birthday? No.
If you want the truth, I thought it'd get rid of him quicker.
He wants to see me make ace.
You two don't get along? It's not that.
It's this place.
He doesn't belong here.
It's crazy.
What if it took 10 victories to be an ace, how hard do you think it'd be to get your fifth? I guess it'd be a lot easier.
Well, then don't become a numbers man.
You're a good fighter pilot, and that's what's important.
I almost got killed trying to get number five because somebody said it was the big one.
I don't want your dad taking you home in a bag.
Get over to the debriefing.
I'm Greg Boyington, Mr.
French.
Heard a lot about you, Major.
Colonel Lard insisted I use his plane.
I've got some things in there I thought you and your men might not be able to get over here.
Some wine, canned goods.
Thanks, I appreciate that.
Where's Don? Must be in his tent.
Don.
Still on your tail, huh? Dad.
How are you, son? Fine.
Where can I put this? Right here.
Dad.
Hey, hold it.
Let me look at you.
Well Well, what? Just Yeah.
Where can I sit down? Please.
If I'd known you needed a razor, I'd have brought you one.
I didn't expect you till tomorrow, or I would've It's all right.
Don.
Well.
It's hard to believe.
What? My son's a fighter pilot, and damn near an ace, to boot! What's hard to believe about that? You haven't gone and got number five already, have you? No.
Good.
How's the arm? Sam Gorman told me.
It's fine, good as new.
You should have a Purple Heart coming.
I've got a few connections I don't want you to do that, Dad.
- Don, you Dad, I'd really rather you don't do that! All right.
All right.
How's Mom? Your mother's fine.
She misses you.
She wishes you'd write.
It's teamwork that counts, Mr.
French.
Hot shots don't last very long around here.
Your son Don is a hell of a team player.
I believe in teamwork, but I believe in stars, too.
Don's always excelled.
Football, baseball, he was all-state quarterback his junior year.
I remember one game he played in the snow.
It was so slippery on the field What do we have here? Look at this prettiness.
- Get away from me.
I don't know, I've never seen him before.
But he's lovely, he's lovely! Look at this! Bring over a bottle of the cabernet, son.
Your dad was telling me about your football career.
All-state quarterback? We'll drink to that.
I never knew you were an all-state quarterback, Don.
You shouldn't keep things like that a secret.
I wasn't all-state.
I was third string.
Your first year.
I didn't make the team the first year.
Sophomore, then.
But senior year, that's when you excelled.
I was third-string, Dad! I only played in three games! Sit down and open the bottle.
I hate to lower the flaps on the party, but we've got to fly tomorrow, men.
Greg's right, Don.
You'd better get some sleep.
Let's go.
Goodnight.
Let's go.
Yeah, see you tomorrow.
Greg.
Must be a big job riding herd on all these young men.
Do you have any children of your own? A full squadron, Mr.
French.
Goodnight.
We were flying another patrol to Cape Alexander on Choiseul and back.
It was quiet until we'd made the Cape.
Bandits at 10 o'clock high! Let's pay our respects.
It was a Tojo patrol.
Apparently it was on its way home and low on gas and wasn 't anxious for a fight.
We caught most of 'em, but a few of 'em ran.
Don went on after them and got separated from the rest of us.
I got him! Where are you, Don? I'm coming, Pappy.
That monkey gave me a run for it, but I got him.
Great.
Hey, Gutterman, what were you doing leaving me alone like that? What happened, T.
J.
? You get lonely? Where's, Don? Yeah, we got to get that kill confirmed.
That'll be number five.
I heard on the radio, congratulations.
Number five, the big one! It's not confirmed yet, Dad.
Confirmed? - Yeah.
Did anybody see it? I don't know.
I was split off from the squadron.
What are you telling me, it doesn't count? It has to be confirmed.
- Then you're an ace? Dad, will you just stay out of this? You don't understand! Don't walk away from me! Leave him alone for a minute, Mr.
French.
Let me talk to him.
You want him out of here, don't you? He's my father.
So what? That doesn't mean you gotta like him.
Personally, I never agreed with anything my father did, and he never agreed with anything I did, either.
Did you love him? In between fistfights, sure.
He had the best right hand in the state of Washington.
Tell you what.
Why don't I just confirm that Zeke you got today, and your dad will take a hike out of here.
Well? Thanks, Greg, but It's like all that bull he was laying down in the Sheep's Pen about me being an all-state quarterback.
I don't have to make my life here a lie to please him.
Confirming that plane is just like another lie.
When I get the fifth one, it's gonna be on my terms.
On our terms.
For what it's worth, I think that's the right decision.
Now let's go get a drink and celebrate the one that nobody saw.
Look at the action on this thing.
Smooth as a kiss on a baby's cheek.
What's with you and that pearl-handled pop gun? Next you'll be sleeping with it under your pillow.
Didn't you know? I thought you did.
I'm a riverboat gambler, boy.
I can read your cards from the top side.
Put a hole in the ace of spades from fifty paces.
You're a hot dog.
That's right.
Excuse me.
I'm not interrupting anything, am I? No.
He seems to have his share of spunk.
Yeah, that's Carter's long suit.
Spunk and a big mouth.
An almost fatal combination.
Am I supposed to read something into that remark? He's my wingman.
He gets on my nerves sometimes.
You want me to write you an editorial? You can publish it next Sunday under "useless information.
" Yes.
Well, did you and Boyington get it all worked out? What do you mean? I was just wondering.
Look, Dad Don.
I don't want to be a problem to you here.
If I'm a problem, just tell me and I'll get going.
I'm supposed to be in Sydney in two days.
Yeah? - Yeah.
I'm having a meeting with General MacArthur.
Took me six months to arrange it.
So, is Boyington gonna confirm that Zeke? No.
He can, you know.
As a matter of fact, I looked it up in the Marine regs.
I've got a copy.
Squadron commanders can issue confirmations if they want to.
Look, Dad, you don't have to tell me how it is out here.
I've been out here six months.
You've been home writing about it.
Well I guess there's a whole lot of truth in that, isn't there? Say, son You want me to talk to him? I could put a little pressure on him.
It wouldn't work, Dad.
He's already offered to confirm the thing, only I wouldn't let him.
You did hit it, didn't you? Yeah.
So why not take the credit? Because the most important thing in my life right now is the respect of that man.
Next to that is the respect I get from the rest of these guys.
What about my - Don't say it, Dad.
Unless you're looking for a disappointment.
Well, this has certainly been a most unpleasant little exchange of information.
Yeah.
If you think I don't care about you, Don, then you're wrong.
All my life I've worked hard to give you what you wanted.
I guess l I can't change what I am, can I? I do love you.
Maybe not the way you would want it.
All I know is if you want something in this life, you've got to go out there and get it.
You told me you flamed that Japanese Zero.
You just shot down your fifth airplane.
I think you should take it.
You got a minute, Greg? Jerry, come on in.
I'll be with you in a second.
You gonna dig a hole in the floor here, or what? I wanted to talk to you about changing my wingman, Greg.
You wanna get rid of Boyle? He's been flying great cover.
You haven't picked any 20-millimeters out of your tail in a week.
Nothing's wrong with Boyle.
I'd like to have French for a while.
You know, just for old times' sake.
I mean, before Boyle came in, I was flying with French.
I just thought, for a while Until he gets number five? Let's get something straight here, Jerry.
Nobody in this outfit, nobody starts changing wingmen so he can goose up his victory slate.
You got that? Greg What about Carter? You want him to feel like dog meat? Well, Carter's a jerk.
All the time polishing that damn automatic.
He's not one of us.
That's none of your business.
Give him a chance.
He's only been here for two weeks.
That's not the point.
You want the point? Whether you like Carter or not, he's a member of this squadron.
Until somebody says he's not.
You got that? I'm trying to make him a team player.
How do you think he'll feel if I take him out from under Don's wing? Like he can't cut it.
That isn't the way to make him a team player, Jerry.
I've known Don for a long time.
Even before you found us.
I think he's gonna unravel.
What makes you think that, his father? Yeah.
He's trying to prove something to his father, and I'm afraid it could get him killed.
So you wanna be his wingman? I can help him get number five.
So can I.
What're you gonna do? Goodnight, Jerry.
Goodnight, Jerry.
Mr.
French.
You got a minute? I'm on my way to the flight line.
I don't want to miss the take off.
Maybe this hasn't occurred to you, Harold, but they sure as hell aren't gonna take off until I get there.
So spare me the time.
You know, I don't think I like that tone of voice.
You're not in a newsroom in Trenton, and in about five seconds, I'm going to take Don off the mission board.
You're going to do what? That is unless you and l can come to an understanding.
All right.
You were saying.
Right now, your son is about to get scratched.
Since he got word of your arrival, he's trying to be a one-man air show up there.
He thinks he's his own Air Force.
He's been disobeying direct flight instructions.
Every now and then, this can happen.
But when it becomes epidemic, I have to take action.
Meaning? Meaning there's a C-47 leaving here at 3:00 this afternoon, and I expect you to be on it.
Or I'm gonna scrub your son from this mission and every mission until you leave, Mr.
French.
Seems like we have one Pappy too many, doesn't it? You got it, Harold.
And since I'm the Pappy that's running this circus, you are the Pappy that's leaving.
I have connections.
- Good.
Maybe you can get me transferred to San Francisco where the Scotch is better and the women are more available.
Until that happens, I'm calling the shots out here.
Oh, Greg.
The only thing that's ever been important to me is Don's success.
And the only thing that I am interested in is the lives of my boys.
I had sort of hoped to tell MacArthur that I was there when Don got number five.
Unless it happens this morning, Mr.
French, you won't be around.
How about it, Harold? Does your boy stand down or not? I suppose I'll just have to leave then.
Do I at least get to say goodbye to my son? Why don't you wait until he gets back.
Then you get on that C-47 and go to Australia.
And don't forget to give my regards to General MacArthur.
That morning we were given an escort mission.
We were to rendezvous with a wing of B-17's over the Shortlands and take them in for a run on Kahili.
Bomber leader to Black Sheep One, we have visual contact with you at 10 Angels.
We'll start our run 20 miles south-southwest of Kahili, going down to Angels five.
Roger.
Black Sheep One to Black Sheep.
Move in tight and let Tojo come to us.
Here they come.
Tuck it in and stay close! Hold it down, Carter! I'm working them.
Pass on under.
Check.
You let him slip by me.
I'm sorry, Don.
I'll break off and bring him around again.
I'm on him now.
I'll handle it.
You go after the other one.
Let's stick together.
I said I can handle it.
Major I'm hit! Pappy, I've got trouble.
No wingman and two on me.
T.
J.
, Jerry, give Carter a hand! Hang in there, Carter.
Hurry up! Pappy, Carter's hit! Did he get out? I can 't tell.
His plane's breaking up.
He's out.
His chute's open.
T.
J.
, go down with him, make sure he's all right.
T.
J.
: Will do, Pappy.
What's this all about? I don't want to talk about it.
Please, just leave me alone.
But, Don Things like this happen Leave me alone! All right, son.
Major.
Yes.
Massage, sir.
Set it down, will you? Yes, sir.
Thank you.
Well, go on in.
Air Sea Rescue fished Carter out of the drink.
Who wants to make the announcement? Boyle, you make it.
You guys have something else on your minds? Well, now that they got Carter, maybe this doesn't matter.
Of course it matters.
Carter won't be back for two days and that leaves Don without a wingman tomorrow.
That is why you came here, isn't it? That has something to do with it.
Nobody wants to fly with him, right? Well, come on, you meatheads.
Speak up.
Okay, Greg.
I don't want him as my wingman.
And I guess the rest of us feel pretty much the same, we can't depend on him.
All the time breaking out, going hunting on his own.
And you all know why, don't you? It's because he's so worried about that fifth victory that he can't do anything right.
And you guys aren't exactly helping matters.
What'd we do? Somebody leaked it to the press.
That got Gorman out here.
Then you hype Gorman like a bunch of Hollywood press agents and that got Horrible Harold here.
Who's been looking into Don's cockpit every morning and every night.
No wonder he's choking.
I didn't have anything to do with this from the beginning.
I didn't want anything to do with this.
But we got a problem here.
What are we going to do? I'll tell you what we're not going to do.
We're not going to ostracize him, treat him like a leper, and then you wait for the 3:00 transport which will be here in about 20 minutes.
I already made arrangements to get Harold French on that C-47 and out of here.
And then we watch Don, we're gonna cover for him, and we nurse him back.
Any man in this unit who tells me he doesn't want to fly with him is gonna get one in the mouth.
Was there anything else, gentlemen? You can't solve everything with a good right hand, Greg.
Yes, I can.
Greg, I don't think he wants to leave.
Take my word for it.
At 3:00 he'll be gone.
Trust me.
Well, Harold, I'm looking forward to seeing Don.
I understand he's about to get number five.
Only if the good Major will let him fly.
Nonsense.
Of course he'll let him fly.
I thought you said he was leaving.
I made a mistake.
Anybody can make a mistake.
Can't I make a mistake? Yeah, sure.
- Well, I just made one.
Hey.
How you doing? Yeah.
I was thinking, if you're looking for a new wingman, we could team up for a couple of days till Carter gets back.
What happened, Bob, did you lose? Lose? What are you talking about? I got ears.
I heard about the meeting in Boyle's tent.
What'd you do, draw straws to see who had to fly with me? Listen, Don, that isn't the way it was.
And how was it? How was it? You guys think I rolled out on Carter.
You think I like the way it turned out.
I'm just telling you I'll fly with you.
If you don't want me, then one of the other guys I let Carter get hit.
Don't you guys see that? I was flying around up there like Sky King.
Trying to get my precious fifth victory.
I let my wingman get smoked.
It might help if you lay off the Scotch a little bit.
I don't need a nursemaid, Bob.
You want to hold somebody's hand, trot on over to the hospital and scare up a nurse.
How about a beer? - How you doing, T.
J.
? Pretty good.
Thanks.
You do that all by yourself? I was just gonna come look for you.
I'm here.
What can I do for you, Don? I'll show you what you can do for me.
Oh, my God.
This bar is closed, men.
I was just getting to thinking of myself as a man.
Which is a pretty hard thing to get to be.
Especially where I come from.
Just now you were acting like a 6 year old.
I hate him.
I hate him for what he does to me.
Every time I'm around him, I try so hard to make him proud.
Ain't that a crock? I mean, how can it mean so much to me? I don't know, Don, but you better to find out, 'cause until you do, you're not flying.
When I was in the fifth grade, I was in the crazy little play where this frog goes to the city and meets all kinds of animals who live there.
All the kids wanted to be the frog.
Anyway, I got to play the frog.
Must've been rigged 'cause as a fifth grader, I was lucky if I could find my way to class in the morning.
But I was the most important thing in the play.
And I studied like crazy to learn all the lines.
The hell with it.
Go on, Don.
I must have looked pretty stupid in the frog outfit but man, I was one proud little frog.
And the day of the play came and we were all backstage Iooking through the curtains trying to find our parents in the audience, and I looked, and he wasn't there.
He told me he wouldn't miss it, but he did, and you know why? Because he forgot.
Ain't that something? He just plum forgot.
But the show went on, and I did fine.
And I gotta tell you, Greg, as frogs go, I was pretty good.
But he missed it and it wasn't until much later when I was playing football that I realized why.
You see, he was only He was only interested in the things that I did that reflected well on him.
Being the father of a frog didn't impress him much.
But being the father of a quarterback did.
All-state quarterback.
What do you want, Don? This isn't a gridiron.
This isn't a fifth-grade play.
We got us a real shooting war out here.
I don't know, Greg.
I guess I just wanted to remember the lines when he finally came and I can't think of one.
You're too old to worry about it, Don.
And you're not, right? 'Cause you care about all of us.
And you want us to be what's best for us.
So that's what that was all about.
You were looking for a spanking.
Let me give you a tip, Don.
You ever swing at me again, and I'm gonna give you a hard place to sit down, son.
What do I do, Greg? I'm not your father, Don.
Don't try and make me a substitute, 'cause I'll only disappoint you.
Maybe it's overdue, but I think it's time you got it straightened out one way or the other.
Thanks, Greg.
Trying to get Donald together with the daughter.
She was crazy about him.
Absolutely crazy about him.
He didn't care about her.
Not one bit.
Hi, Don.
Excuse me, Colonel, but could I have a moment with my father? Well, certainly.
Thanks for the talk.
See you later, chum.
You're doing nice work here, Don, very nice.
Keep it up.
He probably hasn't read the log for this morning.
My wingman went swimming.
Well, I've been doing a little P.
R.
for you, son.
Colonel Lard's a real comer.
Probably be getting his Brig Star shortly.
I think it would be nice after you get number five to get transferred onto his staff.
You do, huh? Yes, I do.
Something wrong? - Yeah, Dad, plenty.
I'll tell you what.
Why don't you just pack up your little portable, and your chess set and get off of this island.
Now, hold the phone.
No, you hold the phone.
I don't want you here.
You missed too many things that were important to me.
Now you're just gonna have to miss something that's important to you.
I came 10,000 miles to see you on this island.
You're gonna throw me off? You didn't come 10,000 miles to see me.
You came 10,000 miles to see MacArthur, and you squeezed me in on the way.
The only place where I've ever fit in is here.
And it's never mattered whether or not I flew a hot stick.
All that mattered was that I came home after every mission.
Now all of a sudden it matters, and because of it, one of our guys may not come home.
So, Dad, you're just gonna have to get off this island.
And so help me, if you don't, I'm gonna give it a real shot at throwing you off.
So, I suppose you feel like a real man.
No, Dad.
Just came to say goodbye.
I was awake all night thinking about everything.
I don't know what to say.
I don't have it all straight yet.
But when this is over, when you come back, I'd sure like to see you.
A new air ace in the South Pacific.
Lieutenant Donald French scores his fifth air victory over the Solomon Slot during a routine patrol with his squadron VMF 214.
Under the command of triple ace Greg Boyington, young French and his squadron jumped a zero formation out of Choiseul.
In an air contest which lasted but seconds, French got his fifth victory.
Son of a newspaper publisher in New Jersey, Donald French becomes the South Pacific's 18th ace.
A man to make us all proud.