Original subtitles

Thank you.

Calling Payson in plane three.

Federal Airlines.

Newark. Calling Payson in plane three.

Payson. Why don't you answer?

Newark. Go ahead, Payson.

You sure your radio set's okay?

Yes, sir. Be better.

Hold that.

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

The weather in Harrisburg is fair.

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

What's wrong?

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

blame on anyone yet. Federal Airlines.

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

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

on again strong and clear.

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

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

Ask him to be served, Payson.

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

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

Newark at once.

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

Newark.

Newark, calling Eddie Payson in plane three.

Payson, answer Newark.

Newark, calling Eddie Payson in plane three.

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

You're positive you're transmitting?

Newark, calling Texas Clark in plane two.

Radio test, go ahead.

Texas Clark in plane two. Newark coming in okay.

There's a bill, baby.

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

now. Call the division superintendent.

Hold those dice, Jake.

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

No, not you.

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

out of business.

Hello. Jake Lee speaking.

We can't contact Eddie Payson.

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

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

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

between Harrisburg and Newark.

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

teletech, and I'll be right over.

What's wrong?

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

answer his radio.

I've always been afraid of that kid.

I'll see you later, honey.

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

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

How long has it been?

Eight minutes.

Should be right here.

They're up country with plenty of houses.

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

Go ahead, Texas.

Okay,

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

Yes,

sir.

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

What's the matter with the rest of you?

Hello, airlines.

Oh, this is Jake. Are you all right?

Relax, boys.

Okay, that's a relief.

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

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

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

Where are you?

Okay, Eddie.

Pay some bail out there, Wanamaker.

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

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

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

Yes, sir.

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

That low -pressure area around Cincinnati is moving northeast.

Yeah.

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

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

sleet, and ice.

Go on the ticket office.

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

any chances on them.

Mail pilots can fuck the dirt if it gets unflyable.

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

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

you.

Yeah.

Yeah, that's right.

I can't write two -handed games myself.

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

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

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

and hit the silk. He's all right.

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

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

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

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

my mother.

You'd be surprised what I call her.

Message was deleted.

Thanks.

Here's good news.

Huh?

Yeah.

What's it say?

The prodigal returns.

Dizzy Davis coming home.

Is he coming back here?

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

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

He's firing an overhaul job from Chicago.

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

Was he hurt? No.

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

Yes, ma 'am? Come on.

Well, where are we going?

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

gets here. Come on.

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

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

there may be something in what you say.

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

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

No kidding.

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

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

Wait a minute.

How are you, Mike?

Hello.

You better shine that plate before you go.

Oh, sure.

I forgot what I came for.

Doc sent me over here four times.

I'll make it look real pretty, Jake.

You're doing a swell job, fella.

Don't worry too much about it.

Hello, Al. Hello, Jake.

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

transport. There's all the dope.

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

What do you think of it?

Losing speed 220, that sounds high.

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

You know, the old man likes that Adams bomber.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Report from Cleveland by telephone.

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

magneto block had been pulled loose.

Pulled loose? Of course he did it himself.

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

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

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

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

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

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

was carrying an overhaul job east.

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

that way.

Well, there's some excuse for pacing.

But there's none at all for Dizzy.

He's never been reliable.

I don't see why you want him here.

Now, sit down.

Now sit back and relax.

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

Who made the first night hop over the Alleghenies?

Dizzy Davis.

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

emergency fields in either.

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

some money on it?

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

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

Davis.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dizzy Davidson, 22, calling Newark.

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

Position over Sharon.

Altitude 2 ,000.

Temperature 58.

Visibility unlimited.

Ceiling 3 ,000 feet. Scattered clouds.

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

Now, how's Jake?

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

Pilots will refrain from all personal conversation while in flight.

Okay. I can read.

Speak of the devil.

The devil is right.

Al, let me tell you something.

Give me one of those, will you?

Sure.

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

We were all in the war together.

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

Three weeks later, he was teaching me.

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

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

they're through.

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

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

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

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

Al, get this.

I hire and fire the pilots on this division.

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

Okay, Jake.

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

Thanks.

No, we're calling Davis in 22.

No, we're calling Davis in 22.

Routine check and position report.

Call ahead, Davis.

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

Okay, 22.

Lawson in plane six to Newark. Okay, Lawson.

Coming in to land.

Wait a minute.

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

I'll just line that training job.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hey, Jake!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hey! Hey!

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

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

Scared? I'll say I was.

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

are you?

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

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

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

They look better that way.

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

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

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

WWGR network, okay.

All right, Eddie, sit down.

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

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

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

Then they turned the beam off.

It was only off for ten minutes.

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

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

able to take care of your course.

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

This is purely a case of pilot and cockpit trouble.

You've got jittery flying blind.

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

the fog, prepared to hit the mountains.

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

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

I guess that's right.

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

Eddie. You don't know where you are.

Yeah.

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

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

I'm not afraid, Jake.

Really, I'm not.

I tried to bring the mail through.

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

he's finished.

The first time makes the second time easier.

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

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

Model planes, school, college.

Give me another chance, will you?

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

plume would have had to make a report on you.

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

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

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

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

Last night, you answered those questions.

Cost us a $40 ,000 airplane.

I've got your final check in the office.

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

You've been mighty square about it, Jake.

So long.

So long.

Tough break for the kid.

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

Sisters. Yeah.

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

sir.

Okay,

22.

Okay,

22.

Well, home again.

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

Joe Allen, Department of Commerce inspector.

Oh, hello.

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

Yes, I know.

That was a very fancy landing.

You mean this one?

You know what I mean.

The next one like it will cost you a suspension.

Uh -huh, wrong again.

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

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

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

Let me see your pilot's license.

Pilot's license? There we are.

You'll notice I made application for renewal.

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

Skippy Pump, six years old.

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

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

Ah.

You write a very lovely hand, Joseph.

I suppose you're going to turn me in.

I got my job to do.

But I'm no stool pigeon.

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

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

You're as lucky as ever, you look.

Goldie, my luggage.

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

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

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

about that cat?

Where that cat went?

How's Mary?

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

And how's your matrimony, Tex?

Still moaning along?

On a clear day I can hear in Cleveland.

Send me your love?

Sure. I'll bet she did.

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

seen him in years.

Hiya, Paz.

Welcome home.

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

Hey, Paz, I want you to meet somebody.

Thomas Dizzy Davis. How are you?

I'm Dizzy Davis.

Yes, I know.

How'd you know?

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

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

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

old generous Tex.

Say, what is this, a little?

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

Yep, I'm a daddy.

Me, huh?

Goodbye, Daddy.

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

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

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

Oh, wouldn't you?

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

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

I've heard of that maneuver.

Oh, has it good points?

Go ahead, Blandy.

Okay,

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

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

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

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

the media service. Pilot Lawson, Dizzy Davis.

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

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

Must be a good fella. Have all that responsibility.

Sure, he keeps his mind on his job.

He's developing that new de -icer.

Keeps the ice from forming on the wings.

Roll it with him, will you?

When you have time.

Yeah, yeah.

How about tomorrow?

Hmm? I say, how about tomorrow?

Tomorrow?

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

Oh, uh, tell me.

What are we doing tomorrow?

We?

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

Ask me the day after tomorrow.

Never thought I'd miss to see the day.

Izzy Davis was a good guy when he had it.

You underestimate me, boys.

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

Izzy, a lady wants a conversation with you.

Take it over here, Romeo.

Hold the line.

Hello?

Hello?

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

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

papers. Can Bertie read?

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

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

No, I didn't see you anymore.

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

Oh, but it isn't over, Dizzy.

My lawyer said it wasn't.

Your lawyer?

Preacher, what promise?

Gone is romance.

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

You can write it off your income tax.

Set it straight for Atlanta.

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

Obsolescence, depreciation. Shut up.

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

I didn't make you any promises.

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

only clowning, Bertie.

Oh, no, no.

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

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

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

stop all this lawyer business.

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

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

Will you shut up?

Huh?

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

some of the directors.

Oh, we could cancel that. We could not.

Huh?

Where are you living, darling?

Lamartha, Washington.

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

will you?

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

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

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

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

Of course not.

What? That's right, sweet. Yes.

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

Goodbye.

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

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

than the regular schedule.

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

Dizzy Davis, the flying postman.

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

His lawyer's there, too, you know.

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

go ahead.

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

Listen, you lug.

What's the dope on that horse landing yesterday?

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

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

Is this official?

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

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

left wing.

Biggest place you ever saw.

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

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

Four. Long hair.

Couldn't tell at that altitude.

Then the unexpected happened.

A magneto block got loose.

Yeah.

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

all about it.

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

He wanted to fire you.

Fire me?

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

Hey, maybe Boston doesn't want it.

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

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

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

Uh, Tex asked me to stop at his place.

Oh, I see.

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

Oh, yeah.

Sure.

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

I guess I'd better call Lou.

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

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

your home.

Are you a dog or will I do?

Hello, Lou.

This is Tex, your husband.

Look, honey, Dizzy's here.

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

She sends you her best, dear.

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

could put him up.

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

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

Yes, and into the bathtub, I suppose.

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

Couldn't we put a cart in the hole?

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

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

Of course he couldn't do that.

I could try.

All right, honey.

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

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

I'm sorry.

I'll bet you are.

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

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

Wouldn't be bad.

That's Mike.

Mike!

Mike, I'm glad to see you.

I haven't laid eyes on you in years.

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

Mike, you look... You want something?

Don't you remember me, Mike?

Dizzy?

Dizzy? Yeah.

Dizzy Davis.

Dizzy Davis.

51 Squadron, Kelly Field.

Kelly Field.

Oh, yeah.

I remember you.

You were a pilot.

I still am.

You've been away.

Yes, Mike.

I was out west for a while.

Hmm.

I thought I hadn't seen you around.

Got by the house sometime.

I got some mighty good gin.

All right, Mike, I will.

I make it myself.

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

That's swell, Mike. Thanks.

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

People won't come here.

Ted, you can't do that to him.

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

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

practically every bone in his body.

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

it's all about.

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

even sent him to the mails.

Holy cow.

Oh,

polishing brass door knobs.

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

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

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

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

Here.

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

Oh, forget it.

We'll have to make a man sick inside.

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

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

It takes money to pensions.

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

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

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

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

have her come over.

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

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

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

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

we'll meet over there right away.

There's my dinner, partner.

Second round coming up.

How's the betting?

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

Five will get you ten.

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

Hello, Tommy.

Hello.

I've come to apologize.

For what?

For acting like a chump.

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

I didn't expect this.

Why not?

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

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

show you what the ride is like.

And how are you going to do that?

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

Will you join us?

I promise to behave myself.

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

Yes. Uh -huh.

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

memory post.

No, Dizzy.

This is probably just another good line.

Oh, still suspicious?

Yes.

But hungry.

Good.

Rawson in camp manure.

Go ahead, Rawson.

Position over Martin's Creek.

Dinner is served.

Altitude 6 ,000.

Scattered clouds.

Visibility 5 miles.

Go ahead.

Okay, Ross.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Two years.

Want to see the scars?

Lou and I have been married five.

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

Dizzy. Says he gets me into bad habits.

I can't give an argument about that.

You can, and does.

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

I've got to see her tonight.

Well, that's my conversation.

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

think I am?

I'm only 34.

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

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

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

What of it?

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

hank of 34, you're crazy.

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

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

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

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

No, Joseph.

I am glad I came.

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

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

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

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

Busted.

What's the matter?

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

Five, six, can you wait?

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

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

after nine?

A me.

How about dancing this with your boss?

All right.

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

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

The old reprobate.

Ought to be ashamed of himself.

Well, I don't worry about him.

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

Oh, wonderful, stranger, wonderful.

Nothing out there but mountains and cows.

And, uh, congressman's wives?

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

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

Uh -huh.

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

Tommy's young.

She's only 19.

What happened?

Nothing.

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

heart broken into tiny pieces.

That never happens.

It does sometimes.

I remember reading about a case like that.

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

she? She turned out all right.

She was lucky.

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

I was very glad to hear that.

Very glad.

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

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

He did?

I'd have told him.

Without mentioning any names.

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

Jake's, would he? No, no.

No, no.

Certainly wouldn't.

Hello. Hi.

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

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

Where are you going?

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

Tex. Oh, look what I've got.

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

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

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

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

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

Good night, Tex.

Good night, Dizzy.

Tex, I'm not going.

Who is?

You are.

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

Don't be silly.

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

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

Someone from Mr. Dex?

Me?

Yes, you.

A lady?

Your wife?

Excuse me.

I'll be right back.

It reminds me.

Where are you going?

I gotta see about pulling two other fellas.

Well, don't be long.

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

Hello, Lou.

Yes, yes, yes. I'm here.

Hmm?

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

All right.

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

Yeah, Lou.

I'm coming right home.

Goodbye, Lou.

Well, that couldn't have been Lou.

Oh, yes.

Well, she hardly said anything.

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

Well, that simplifies everything, doesn't it?

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

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

goodnight for her.

Goodnight? Yes, goodnight.

Where'd she go?

She went home with Mr. and Mrs. Lee.

Ah.

Oh, no, no.

What are you doing later?

Who?

Me? Oh,

Mr. Peezy.

Oh, no, this boy.

She thinks I'm kidding.

Good morning. Good morning.

For you.

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

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

idea. Now listen, tell me something.

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

Don't you know?

I haven't the remotest idea.

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

home and I... I cried all night.

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

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

There you go.

I understood everything.

I'll tell you what it was.

Tell me.

You see, you began to look so attractive.

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

34. No, right, 34.

Don't be so sensitive.

You've got to learn to grow gracefully.

Anyway, you began to look so attractive to me.

My heart kept going pit -a -pat.

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

does he look in the morning?

Now that it's morning.

I look 102.

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

No. How?

Let's see.

How about a flying lesson this afternoon?

Flying? Anytime you say.

All right. On one condition.

That you have dinner with me afterward.

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

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

Jake will never stand for that.

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

Well, you forget about it. You be here.

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

But you'll never get away with it.

It's a cute outfit.

Hi,

Dave. Hello, Tex.

Hey, Tex.

Oh.

Hey, what's the matter?

Nothing, nothing.

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

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

it. Yeah.

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

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

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

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

it, dear. Yes, yes.

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

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

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

I'll go.

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

I'm afraid to go home anyway.

Oh, yeah.

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

Thanks. Take it easy. I

guess

I'll go to Cleveland.

Cleveland, special weather, 9 p .m.

Ceiling zero, visibility zero, and squall.

Temperature 30, dew point 30.

Wind west 2, barometer 2980.

Cleveland to Chicago.

Help on weather.

Go ahead.

Chicago to understand.

Okay, Cleveland.

Here it is.

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

Look at those seagulls.

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

the ground.

Tax block and plane 9, follow Newark.

Go ahead, Texas.

Six o 'clock to Newark, eastbound.

Can't see my hand on instruments.

East lake of Belmont Range.

Compass 101.

Altitude 10 ,000.

Ceiling here is still zero. No improvement.

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

What's the top of the clouds, Texas?

Six thousand.

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

Okay, Texas.

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

Oh, never mind. Skip it.

Stay where you are, Texas.

Okay, Newark.

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

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

but the mail leaves Newark's weather clear.

Yes, sir.

Newark, calling all Federal Airlines stations.

Newark, calling all Federal Airlines stations.

Newark, closed in.

Bellefont, closed in.

Newark to Bellefont, zero, zero.

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

Caution, all male pilots. That is all.

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

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

Yeah.

Cell phone.

Testing.

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

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

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

counting. I'm satisfied I can breathe.

Oh, listen, by the way, forget this.

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

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

I promise. Good.

You'll be able to like it longer.

Oh, I love it.

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

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

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

The world is down there under your wings.

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

What am I doing? Making a speech?

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

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

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

Oh, yes, always.

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

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

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

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

took my run.

I'd rather be up there myself.

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

Oh, Mama. Mama, here.

Here, Mama.

Mama, put that on the clock, huh?

On the clock?

What do you mean?

Never any money on the clock. On the clock.

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

Stone Center will hit here about noon tomorrow.

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

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

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

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

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

practically everything.

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

Take clock to Newark, eastbound.

Can't see my hand on instrument.

East leg, belt want range.

Compass, 101.

Out to 10 ,000.

Temperature 46.

Give no up weather. Go ahead.

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

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

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

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

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

Oh, hello, hello.

How's it look?

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

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

those lunches. Thank you.

Hello, boys. How are you?

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

No, thanks.

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

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

Not for you, too, Dizzy.

They're lovely. Lovely.

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

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

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

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

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

Adams twin -engine bomber into a passenger ship.

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

boards.

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

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

You're wasting your time and cigars.

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

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

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

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

that?

Well, can it?

Can't not.

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

safe, comfortable airplane.

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

fair trial.

Well, that's all I can ask.

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

might be able to do you some good down there.

Well... No hard feelings.

Not while the bourbon lasts.

So long.

Oh, I like that Fred Adams.

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

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

All we want them to do is leave us alone.

Oh, Des, did you find an apartment?

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

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

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

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

that to me?

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

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

All right, Pop.

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

Nord, calling Texas Clark in plane nine.

Texas Clark in plane nine.

Report your position and altitude.

No change.

Still flying blind on north range.

Altitude 8 ,000. Visibility zero.

What's feeling at north now?

Ceiling air is still zero. Dense fog.

Okay, north.

Texas radio sounds sour.

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

North calling Texas Clark.

Texas Clark, go ahead.

Check your radio.

Transmission is blurred.

Call you back in a few minutes.

Go ahead.

Living. Hmm?

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

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

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

Just sit there and sweat.

And look for a hallway you can see the ground.

If you find it, down you come.

And if you don't?

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

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

Gosh, I'd be scared stiff.

Hmm? I'd be scared.

Surely any pilot that isn't.

Oh, he's got 20 minutes yet.

So don't you think about anything but flying?

When did the bug first bite you?

Do you remember the day Linda came back from Paris?

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

I was only a kid.

But I'll never forget it.

I got welcome home and milk across the sky.

And find a QB.

You were there a while.

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

I didn't even know what QB meant.

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

the flying game, I loved that.

They seemed apart from ordinary people.

Oh, they were.

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

drinking mug.

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

brought him up.

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

How swell.

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

Oh,

you're a grandkid.

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

And really funny.

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

I hope you don't agree.

It's been a good feeling.

It's been sweet.

All at the same time.

Don't do it.

Don't do it.

What are you trying to do?

What's it to you?

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

Oh, go away.

Cut it out, Dizzy. Cut it out.

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

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

you can do is settle your private fights outside.

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

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

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

Okay, Jake.

I did my best. Try to apologize.

I thought you had more sense.

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

you when he came in, he got sore.

But it didn't mean a thing.

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

Dizzy, why don't you grow up?

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

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

difficulties. I don't want any personal friction.

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

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

cop. No,

we're calling Texas Clark on plane nine.

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

Ready to test your transmitter.

Go ahead, Texas.

Go ahead, Texas.

Go on, call him again.

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

Go ahead, Texas.

Keep trying.

Yes, sir. Stop chewing that gum!

Yes, sir.

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

Hello there, Texas.

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

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

was wrong.

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

Creek. Have you heard the eastbound plane?

Yeah?

Yeah? Thanks.

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

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

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

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

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

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

hard one? Oh, sure, I know that.

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

On his way home.

Yeah.

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

The trees, the houses, or anything.

And?

And I hit.

I stopped like a train hitting a wall.

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

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

Take it easy.

Oh, yeah.

I remember.

Jake said, take it easy.

You know, Dizzy?

You ought to be smart and stop flying.

What? You're too old to fly.

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

What good does it do you?

Make you brave?

You're afraid.

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

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

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

You all right now?

Yeah.

I'm all right.

I was just kind of fogged over.

You're all right now.

We're all for you. Run along home.

Yeah, I guess I'd better run home.

The wife might be willing.

She thinks I'm still flying.

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

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

a hole.

Find a hole in that mud?

It's solid overcast.

At least 15 ,000 feet thick.

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

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

ahead, Texas.

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

Texas.

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

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

Go ahead, Texas.

Hiya, Jake.

Hello, it's Marley.

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

for a job.

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

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

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

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

Clark. Complain nine. Go ahead, Texas.

Still doesn't answer.

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

with his radio.

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

Tex Clark at number nine. Still on instruments.

West leg. North leg.

Altitude 4 ,000.

Give ceiling at north.

Oh, it's still on the ground.

Calls him a barometer. 29, 80.

North. Answer nine.

I answered, Texas.

North. Answer nine.

I did answer, Texas.

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

Well, he's not receiving.

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

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

Well, nothing to do with weight, I guess.

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

Hiya, Dizzy. How are all your women?

Oh, I can't complain.

And they haven't.

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

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

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

Oh, you mean, uh...

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

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

never knew anybody in East Orange.

What other one do you mean? You mean Catherine.

No, no, that wasn't her name.

She was crazy about you.

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

a million of them. Forget it.

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

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

Marley.

What was that girl's name?

Was it Miller?

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

You know her?

Yeah, I know her.

I married her.

Married her?

Oh, no, Jake. This was another one.

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

This was another one. Her name was Mary Dillon.

That's it. Dillon.

Oh, I wouldn't know her then.

No, Holly. You never met this girl.

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

So long.

So long. So long, Smiley.

You know,

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

How much of that was on the level?

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

No, no, never.

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

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

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

her reputation wasn't so cockeyed.

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

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

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

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

West Lake, North Range.

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

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

He's three.

Barometer 2980.

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

fading out. No work to answer mine.

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

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

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

I had a plane up there. Quiet, everybody.

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

set.

Sounds awfully high, Jake. Yeah.

Come on, boy, talk him down.

This is Jake, Texas.

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

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

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

me.

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

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

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

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

Turn off those lights in there. Yes, sir.

You're passing the field now, Texas.

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

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

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

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

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

Cover that line. It's Newark.

Say, we brought the plane in the fog.

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

Everybody in your stations, stand by.

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

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

once. Hello, Radio Newark?

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

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

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

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

Yeah? Yeah?

Uh -huh.

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

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

Acknowledged.

All right,

thank you.

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

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

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

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

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

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

use the chute.

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

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

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

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

side. That's orders.

And now...

Jake, what is it? What's wrong?

Now, it's all right, Lou.

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

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

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

Oh, hello, Lou.

You've got to tell me, Jake.

His radio's dead.

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

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

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

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

Let's go home.

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

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

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

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

ring.

Is that why you switched your run?

Yeah.

Listen.

Turn off that teletype.

He's picked up the field lights.

Thanks, Clark, to know what it was.

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

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

calling Texas Clark. Check these lights.

I think they're over here, Jake.

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

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

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

Answer me, Newark!

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

Well, here I come.

Feeling for the ground.

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

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

You guys must be shooting crap or something.

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

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

Calling all stations.

Texas Park and Plane 9 just crashed at Newark.

Discontinue standing by.

Resume regular routine.

WWGR.

Newark.

Welcome to Newark.

Pressure weather, 1215 AM.

Welcome. Healing zero.

Visibility zero.

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

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

WWAQ, welcome.

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

great shape. Swell.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Inspection all finished?

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

Running an airline, not a kindergarten? Get going!

Federal Airlines, Jake Lee speaking.

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

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

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

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

Yeah.

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

I want to talk to Lou.

All right.

Well, his heart's not so good.

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

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

Hello.

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

But I am, really.

I know you're sorry.

Your kind always is when it's too late.

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

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

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

make him understand that I never did much good.

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

But I've got this to say to you.

You're no good.

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

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

helped you when he got you brought back here.

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

You've already hurt Tommy.

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

That's all.

Well, what?

No change.

How do you feel?

All right.

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

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

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

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

I can't feel that way about it.

And neither could you if you were in my spot.

No, I don't suppose I could.

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

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

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

Well, we've been through so much together.

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

straight with me.

Now I'm beginning to wonder.

Isn't Jake?

I know I've cut a lot of corners.

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

Always have been, except in this one instance.

And that's you.

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

world.

And I'd cut my heart out for you.

Please don't be mad at me.

What Smiley said about you and Mary.

You told me there was nothing to that.

Absolutely nothing.

My word of honor.

It's good enough for me.

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

You better knock on it.

You'll feel better.

Thanks, Jim.

Doc, is number six ready to go?

No, sir.

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

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

Federal Airlines, Zig Lee speaking.

How is he?

Well, I'll come right over.

Will you phone me?

Tex?

Yeah.

He's pretty weak.

You better go and tell Dizzy.

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

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

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

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

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

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

1211 Wellington Road.

Apartment 14.

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

Hmm?

Betty. Hmm?

Will you see Tay?

Tell him goodbye for me, will you?

Mm -hmm.

Hello, Joe. How does it look?

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

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

Where's Davis?

He's inside.

He's all broken up about Tex, naturally.

Yes, I know.

And I've got another job to hand him.

What do you mean?

Washington won't renew his pilot's license.

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

They don't want Davis to fly.

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

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

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

No, but it might make it easier for Dizzy.

Make what easier?

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

No, it's not text.

It's your license.

What about it?

They're not going to renew it.

Why?

Here's what they say.

The record of Pilot Davis, license number 376.

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

office. Correct.

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

this office immediately.

Signed, John Taylor. A direction.

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

state his own case.

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

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

We'll find something, kid.

Yeah.

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

Can't change now.

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

Oh, forget that.

That's gone.

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

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

Well, you could hold down a job like this.

But you wouldn't.

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

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

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

I don't promise anything. What is it?

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

Lay off Tommy? You heard me.

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

lot of wrangling. What do you say?

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

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

Is it a deal? Do you promise?

All right, tell me.

How are you going to get it back?

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

a real one.

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

want for that?

Buying ships, I guess.

I don't care.

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

license back?

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

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

Well, then...

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

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

flying? I'd rather stop breathing.

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

airline. Well, then run it right.

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

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

You know what I'm talking about.

This business has changed.

Flyers aren't pilots anymore.

They're engineers.

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

Pioneering is over.

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

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

You know, you made this line.

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

aviation today.

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

can get my license back.

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

not.

Edit Airlines. Jake Lee speaking.

It can't be.

I'm going over to see Lou.

Yeah. I couldn't face her again.

You want to take over the duty?

Yeah, Jake, I'd like to.

You better cancel the night mail.

No use having any more trouble.

Tell Lawson it's off.

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

Icing condition.

Cut it off.

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

I know how you must feel.

Thanks, kid.

Is Jake at the hospital?

Yeah, he's over there with Lou.

Did he leave any orders about the mail going out?

Well, I got to get going.

Bird walking weather between here and Cleveland.

No.

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

A few piles have.

Listen, kid.

Why don't you give yourself a break?

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

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

de -ices.

Well, listen, Olsen, tell me.

How do those new de -ices work?

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

Those are orders.

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

Come on, I'll show you.

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

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

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

The action is alternate, like this.

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

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

icing conditions.

Are you really in love with Tommy?

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

Well, I... I had hoped to.

Where is she now?

At home, I suppose.

I suppose.

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

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

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

Take good care of her.

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

I start nice every day.

Lawson.

Have a good hop.

Thanks.

I'm taking the mail. Okay.

Good

evening,

Mr. Stone. Where's Jake Lee?

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

the night mail going out?

Yes, sir, right on schedule.

Oh, Jake decided the weather was all right.

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

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

That's tough.

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

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

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

reasonably.

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

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

Well, then why don't you listen?

All your trouble comes from Dizzy Davis.

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

have my way.

All right.

You can have your way, but without me.

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

And so is Texas Clark.

What are you talking about?

Texas is dead.

What?

Yes, he died a few minutes ago.

Well, that's too bad.

I'm sorry to hear about it.

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

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

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

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

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

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

instruments, Westlake, Newark range.

Visibility zero.

Temperature 30.

I'm beginning to take on ice.

Building up on the leading edges.

Want to try the de -ices?

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

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

He took the night mail.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

do nothing but kiss every one of them goodbye.

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

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

Looks much behind me than it does ahead.

I'm going on.

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

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

All right, boys, all right.

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

the ground.

Jake won't talk to you, Dizzy.

Report and land at once.

Jake, give me that.

Listen, Dizzy.

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

trouble.

Stop having a bend in the air.

This is important.

The pressure has got to be doubled.

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

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

Right now, the tubes are frozen flat.

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

Yeah, get that?

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

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

grandstanding. Get over the field as soon as possible.

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

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

Listen, Dick, you have no shortage of things.

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

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

I know.

Give me that.

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

Yeah, Jake.

She's getting pretty heavy.

High's all over.

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

Losing altitude fast.

Great weather for this test.

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

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

No can do, baby.

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

Didn't he shoot too, Jake?

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

something. Do anything.

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

The ice looks a foot thick on the leading edge.

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

No, just starting to spin.

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

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

No, I can't...

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

You sure?

Yeah.

Run along now. I'll be home soon.

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

You know, it's against all orders.

Oh, I know. I know.

Well, how do you feel about this, Jake?

Are you going to stay?

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

I've watched this land grow from nothing.

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

I'm going to stay.

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

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

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

me.

Lawson. Yes, sir.

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

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

swell guy made it easy for you.

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

Yes? Get that crash truck rolling.

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

becomes viable.

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

Well, come on, get going.

Yes, sir.

Special weather report.

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

Forecast clearing weather.

Present weather, light sleep, temperature 29.

Visibility zero, ceiling zero. That is all.