Original subtitles

Oh yes, Mr. Scott.

>> Thank you, sir. Sir.

>> Mr. Scott, sir.

>> Well, Mr. Scott, you must be anxious to

get at it. I thought you'd take a day or

two to get settled before showing up.

Mrs. Scott seem to have their department

pretty well in hand, sir.

>> I see. Nothing like somewhere to go

while the curtains are being hung. Eh,

>> it's about it, sir.

>> I know what you mean. Tell me, did you

find a nice flat and they fix you up

with a good office here?

>> Quite all right on both kinds of good.

Well, you want to take a good look

around before you take over? Find out

what's going on. Then, when you're

ready, we'll have a talk.

>> Pretty thing, isn't it?

>> Yes. It's a new reindeer, isn't it, sir?

>> Not hard to recognize by that tail. It's

made of the same metal as the plane. A

new alloy they've developed.

>> Very nice. Major Pearl will show you

everything you want to see. He knows

more about the place than I do. You're

in good hands with him. We sometimes

call him the Pearl of Great Price.

>> Good. I'm in your hands, Major. I

thought we'd start in just after lunch.

>> Well, you and I a little more. You can

make a start.

>> Yes. Why? I'll see you in the mess at

1:00. Buy you a Sherry. I'm so glad

you're here, Mr. Scott.

>> I've been looking forward to it. So have

I.

>> That's the original building. The

balloon shed. began here with balloons

in the 70s. That's a very long time.

>> All the strength tests to check safety

factor group here. A lot of work just to

find out if the engineer mucked up his

mathematics. Nothing much to see until

something breaks. And that always

happens when you're somewhere else.

Not much point in this. Flying boats are

pretty well obsolete, of course. Part of

Offing's paradise. This is mind. You

know the scientist lad. Basic research.

The kind who eat their porridge with the

slide rule. Built their own heaven here.

Lightning and all. Find out what happens

when you get hit by it. Didn't put in

any archangels, but it wouldn't surprise

me if they' tried.

What's that? Vibration test.

>> Uh, this is the test.

>> No, no, no. Major Pearl. Now I I must

This is Mr. Scott. He'll be in charge of

metal energy. So you'll be working under

I don't allow an arrangement you've got

there, Mr. Honey. It's the tail group of

the new Rutland reindeer, isn't it?

>> Yes.

>> What are you doing to it?

>> I'm vibrating it.

>> Yes. But I mean, what are you after?

What do you expect to happen to it?

>> I expect the tail to fall off. Excuse

me, please.

Hi, Mr. Scott.

>> This way.

>> Who in the world is he?

>> Oh, that's Mr. Honey. Mr. Theodore

Honey. He's a Yank Road scholar, I

think. But he's been here forever.

>> What's all this about expecting the tail

of the new reindeer to fall off? They're

already in service.

>> Old Honey has some wild hair in his ear.

that vibration might cause metal fatigue

someday by breaking down the aluminium

atom and light alloy structures.

Couldn't vibrate anything little to find

out. All buffins are a bit crackers, but

I suppose he's the worst. Air screws are

down there if you care to see them. Of

course, they're as dead as the leather

bird. Same with engines. We'll be all

jetted no time.

Mr. Honey,

please

only

Mr. Honey.

Can I give you a lift? Well, I seem to

be going your way.

>> Oh. Oh, no. No, thank you. I wouldn't

want to take you out of your way.

>> Where do you live?

>> It's Farnum. It's quite a way.

>> I go right through there.

>> I I I'll get a bus at the next stop. I

wouldn't want to trouble you.

>> No trouble at all. Come on, jump in.

Why did you throw those in the bag?

>> Thank you.

>> I was quite interested in that

experiment of yours with the reindeer

tail group. Would you like to tell me

just what your idea is?

>> Well, it's rather difficult to explain a

thing like that in words of one

syllable.

>> Well, I have managed as much as two

syllables on occasion, Mr. Honey.

Well, to put it as simply as I can, the

purpose of my work has been to arrive at

an end result for the original

theoretical hypothesis of Kursling of

Bal and Schilgard of Absala in which

they postulate vibration as a source of

energy. I reasoned that since this

energy does not appear in any of the

ordinary forms such as heat or

electrical potential, it must be

absorbed by the metal itself and that

sufficient absorption would result in

nuclear fishision of the aluminum atom

in an isotopic form with crystalline

affinities.

I see.

>> And that means the tail will fall off.

>> Exactly.

>> Well, here's here's where it

>> Thank you very much.

You wouldn't would you care to come in?

>> Thank you. I'd like to.

>> Oh, I'm afraid all I can offer you is

some sherry.

>> Oh, that'll be very nice.

>> Oh,

>> probably not very good. I've had it

quite a while.

>> Well, perhaps it's time we tested it to

see if it's suffering from fatigue.

>> Oh, that wouldn't happen to Sherry.

Well,

Oh, I I'm so sorry.

>> It's the one next door. It's very easy

to do. You know,

>> you're new to Fondom, Mr. Honey.

>> We've lived here 11 years.

>> I have it all planned what to have for

dinner. Don't you bother with Oh,

>> hello. You don't remember where we put

that Sherry, do you, dear? The top cover

behind the dishes. You said it would be

out of Mrs. Higgins way.

>> Really? I didn't notice I open the top.

Oh, okay.

Well, never mind that. I'll get that

later. I I knew it must be somewhere. I

never really forget anything. You dear,

would you get some glasses, please? Come

in. Okay. We haven't had to look for it

for quite some time. The last guest we

had was Dr. Gillings from the

Bacteriological Institute just before

Christmas. I'm afraid I'm giving you a

good deal of trouble.

>> Oh, no, not at all. Won't you sit down?

I

>> Here we are.

Say when

I guess Mr. Higgins did find it. I I'll

get some more. I wish you wouldn't

bother.

>> Oh, no. There's no trouble. It's just

around the corner and needs some else.

Will you entertain Mr.

I don't believe you told me your name.

>> Scott. Scott, this is my daughter, Elma.

>> I'll be right back.

>> S here.

>> Won't you sit down, Mr. Scott?

>> Now, just where would you suggest?

>> Oh, I'm so sorry. It's my father's work.

You have to be very careful. It might be

something very important.

there.

>> Thank you. It seems as though your

father does quite a good deal of work.

>> Yes, it's very hard being a scientist.

One has to think a great deal. The world

would have made scarcely any progress at

all if it hadn't been for scientists.

>> I see. The scientists do the thinking

for the world, and the rest of us just

live in it. Is that it?

>> Yes. When my father's thinking, I keep

very quiet.

>> And what about your mother? Does she

help you keep quiet?

>> My mother is dead, Mr. got a B2 in the

war.

>> I'm very sorry indeed, Els. You must

miss her very much.

>> Yes, I do. My father does more. I think

I tried to do things for him the way she

did, but I'm not very good at it yet.

You see, I'm still a little young.

I'd like to show you the house if you

would like to see it.

>> That would be very nice.

>> This is the living room, of course.

Would you like to see my room?

>> Yes, I would very much. This way,

please.

>> And this is where you sit quietly while

he does his thinking.

>> Yes.

>> What do you do?

>> Oh, sometimes I think. And then I'm

training Theodore. That's Theodore. It's

a kind of experiment to determine his

capacity for the association of ideas. I

tie his food on the string to see how

long it will take him to learn to ring

the bell when he's hungry.

It's a very little bell, so it isn't

noisy. It doesn't matter very much

whether he learned it or not, because

he's really quite a nice little fish.

>> Yes.

Oh, what else do you like to do? Don't

you ever play games?

>> Oh, yes, we nearly always do after

dinner. We have a schedule for it.

>> What sort of games do you play?

>> Oh, like about what things are

pentamorous.

>> Pent? Well, how do you play that? You

take turns in finding things that are

five of everything until one of you

can't find anymore. Then he loses. It's

part of the science of numeric.

Uh

>> what other games do you play?

>> Oh, well there's pyramidology.

>> Pyramidology.

>> Pyramidology. Who?

>> That's the science of the great pyramid.

My father made it up too. The game. I

mean, here it is. Excuse me. It was

built in the year 3,234

BC. It's very scientific. It was built

in direct relationship to the stars. So,

it has an astronomical significance.

It's the only known architectural

example of squaring the circle. That is,

the area of the base is exactly equal to

that of a circle with the height of the

structure as its radius. It has the most

wonderful mass in it.

>> I'm sure it must be great.

>> Oh, it is. I have

>> What have you done with Mr. Scott there?

>> We're just coming, father. We better go

now. He may be looking for something

like the corkcrew, and he really isn't

very good at finding things.

>> Oh, here. I'll get that out of your way.

>> I'm afraid it becomes a little cluttered

in here.

Oh, why didn't I see that? I think I'd

better leave this. This is some

correspondence I've been having with

Tong, a Tibetan, and the Abby Belve in

Revane. It's on the theory of numbers.

In 1742, Goldsbach postulated that every

positive even integer is a sum of two

primes

and verified that 10,000, but never

proved.

We're trying to prove it. Yes, I'd want

to know where to find that. By all

means, sounds interesting, but isn't it

a little pointless?

>> Oh, quite. That's the beauty of it.

Here, here's something very interesting.

This is This is Rutherford. Yes. I

wanted to finish this.

Yes. He he he he identifies the 10 Loth

tribes with the Cythians quite

conclusively too. It's very

>> nice to read aloud to El Smith.

>> Oh. Oh yes, I do. Yes.

Light alloy structures and histories.

You know where that goes there.

And this one. Oh. Oh. I

Yeah.

One of the more difficult of the

sciences, I should imagine.

H what's it? Oh. Oh. Oh, yes. Yes. You

know, I didn't find that very

satisfactory. They seem to have such

different problems with her children

than I've ever had with.

>> And you haven't found Pento very

difficult, though?

>> Not at all, really. No, of course. I've

been very systematic about it. I laid

out a schedule. So much work, so much

sleep, so much play.

>> Pyramidology.

>> Pyramid. Yes.

>> What's been your experience of holidays?

I mean, you send her away where she can

be with other children.

>> Do Do you have any children, Mr. Scott?

>> No, but I hope to her, but I value your

opinion.

>> Well, I used to send her away with other

childrens, but I don't do that anymore.

She never seemed to like it very much

anyway. I think perhaps that was because

the other children's minds weren't well

enough organized to interest her. She's

really much happier here. She's quite

good at being by herself. Her her mind

is really developing quite remarkably,

Mr. Scott.

I think she'll be a very fine woman.

>> Yes, I'm sure she will be.

>> Well, I'd be better be getting along.

Oh, uh, looking at your office in a few

days time, I'd like to hear some more

about that experiment of yours. What

about the tail falling off?

>> What did you want to know about?

>> Oh, just a little more detail to know

when you expect failure to occur.

>> Well, I probably have that right here. I

think it's here someplace.

I think it is.

This 2.76 * K L. That's the time factor.

It's in BTI units, of course. That's

That's

1440.

>> 1440 what?

>> Hours.

>> But you don't mean you expect the

reindeer tail to fall off in 1400 hours?

>> No. No. 1440.

>> But Mr. Honey, a lot of aircraft have

flown the many millions of miles without

the tails coming off any of them because

of vibration.

>> Mr. Scott, you asked me for the

evaluation and time of my U subscript M

symbol. Uh the mathematical answer is

1440 hours to failure for the specific

tail plane under test on which my

calculations were based.

>> Now how long has your test been running?

>> 832 hours 14 minutes and 7 seconds as of

shutdown tonight. They don't allow me to

run it more than 8 hours a day. You see

the people in the neighborhood complain

about the racket at night.

>> Yes. But you know, of course that an

aircraft in commercial service is likely

to pile up flying faster than your

experiment.

>> Yes. Yes, that's probably quite true.

>> Well, then why didn't you insist on a

24-hour basis? I did insist on it

originally, but they decided to do it

for eight hours. Yes,

>> but you hadn't given them your 1440hour

figure.

>> Well, I never include detail on my

preliminary report. See, science is in

no hurry, Mr. Scott. I'm working on a

principle, which if I'm correct, it will

be true for all time, but whether I

reach it a day or so later or earlier is

not important.

>> But it might be important for the 50 or

so people who take off in these

reindeers every day.

>> Mr. Scott, you don't understand. I'm a

scientist and science is very exacting.

It requires the utmost concentration. I

can't be concerned about people. I

Well, if a doctor is trying to find out

a cure for a disease, what would happen

if he let himself be upset about

everybody that got sick and died? They

never get any work done at all. People

must be someone else's concern. I can't

let it be mine, Mr. Scott. Now, you can

find my preliminary report on the files,

and I I don't wish to add anything more

to it at the present time. And if you'll

excuse me, I think I think I better be

getting home.

>> Oh,

that's very easy to do, you know.

>> Well, goodbye, Elizabeth. Goodbye, Mr.

>> Goodbye, honey. Excuse

me, please gentlemen.

Rub her down, Ned.

Don't give her any water till she stops

sweating.

>> Scotty, no.

>> What are you doing here?

>> Phil, hello. I've been watching that

plate. I guessed it was you. How are

you?

>> But what are you doing here? Have you

come here for a job?

>> I got one.

>> You have that called for a drink?

>> Well, it's a little early, isn't it?

>> Rosie, customers,

>> what are you going to fly?

>> No more flying naturally set in.

>> Grounded. Well, how'd it happen? Or

perhaps you sooner or not? Are you wait

till you see her?

>> Really? I'm glad to see you can take it

so well. Rosie. Scotty. Meet Rosie.

She's a spy. You wait till you see her

bedroom is absolutely papered in

blueprints, isn't it, Rosie?

>> Oh, Mr. Penw worthy.

>> Oh, Mr. Pen.

>> Two large Scotties, please.

>> Yes, sir.

>> What is your job, Scotty?

>> Head of metal.

>> Don't tell me you're polishing your

pants. Don't tell me you're one of those

crawling little desks.

>> Always was pen. Went back to it when I

got out, that's all.

>> Rosie, this is vodka. Oh,

>> Mr. Pam.

>> Well, off we go. Off we go.

>> Don't you like desk bloss?

>> Listen, Scotty. Pilots and desks, dogs

and cats, natural enemies. They've got

one theme song. You can laugh. Pilots's

error. Whenever anything goes wrong with

their calculations and there's a smash

up, pilot's error. Rosie, do you

remember Harry Ward?

>> Yes, I do.

>> Well, look what they did to him. He was

piloting that reindeer when it flew into

the hill at Labrador a couple of months

ago. All in little pieces. Nothing to go

on. Pilot dead. So, pilot's error. You

don't think it was pilot's error?

>> With Harry Ward, Scotty, you can't be

serious. They said he was dropping off

altitude in an overcast. He wouldn't do

a crazy thing like that if he tried.

>> Rosie, if you can tear yourself away

from the salt mines for a couple of

minutes. We would like a couple of

watkas.

>> Oh, Mr. Fman.

>> 7 to 10° angle of descent. Motors full

on when he hit the hill. Obviously was

in control. Dropping off altitude in the

overcast. Pilot's error. He didn't

reckon on that hill.

>> Do you know how many hours it had flown

with test?

>> How many hours it flown with test? Yes,

I can tell you that, Mr. Scott.

Certainly. Just one minute. They flew a

lot of tests, simulated flights in

weather. Uh,

total number of flying hours before

estimated time of crash, 147.

>> 147.

>> That's right.

>> Have you any photographs of the

wreckage? How many would you like to

see? We cover everything here, Mr.

Scott. We leave nothing out, I assure

you.

>> Reindeer crash photographs of wreckage.

Any particular part of the wreck?

>> Yes, the tail plane.

>> I want to see a photograph of the tail

plane.

>> Yes, I remember now. They didn't find

the tail plane. Nothing unusual in that.

I assure you. The plane turned over as

it hit the hill, caught fire, wreckage

spread all over the place, thick

undergrowth. You can't see 10 ft. The

investigation.

>> Yes. Thanks very much. I'm much obliged.

>> All right. We send someone to Labrador.

Comb through that godforsaken country

for a section of the tail spa and take a

fine hiding from the taxpayers when we

find there's nothing to it. All the

ruddy decisions to make and never one

you can be sure about. One thing you do

know, a buffet has to be a bit barmy to

be a buffin. The line between genius and

being just plain crackers is so thin.

You never know which side you're on, nor

when they've crossed it either.

Shaikovsky, I'm told, one day began to

eat raw goldfish. And Malier discovered

suddenly he was better off standing on

his head. Oh, we've had it here, too. A

fine time all the papers had once when

one of our muffins started pinching

girls in the park. And now our Mr. Honey

informs us that reindeers will fall

apart after 1400 hours and holds a time

figure out of us. If I did things like

that, they'd lock me up. How long before

this infernal machine of his is due to

prove something one way or the other?

>> Weeks. Here, sir. Get it on a 24-hour

basis today. Better get someone to

handle the complaints when they start

coming in, too.

>> Very good, sir.

>> How many hours have the other reindeers

in flight done?

>> Oh, not nearly as many, sir. The one in

Labrador was the prototype. It did all

the tests. That's why it's got so many

hours. The others were delivered in a

group to the airline just before they

went into service. They can't have done

more than 500.

>> That's the best news I've had today. I

don't want the job of asking the airline

to ground their nice new fleet with no

more to go on than what Mr. Honey says.

Well, that's it. But wait a minute. You

know who we're sending to Labrador,

don't you? That's right. Mr. Theodore

Honey. He's the one who started all

this. Maybe a good hard climb will do

him good. Still, he knows what he's

looking for better than anyone else. Get

him started as soon as you can, will

you?

>> I'll give him the good news right away,

sir.

>> Passengers for flight 26 to Montreal.

Will you please have your embarcation

slips ready and proceed to the exit door

for boarding the aircraft?

>> Yes, you have to go through that door.

Every stitch he has in the world is in

that bag. You can't say he squanders

what he makes on himself.

>> Well, have a good trip, Mr.

>> Don't worry, we'll look after us.

>> Oh, well, that's very kind of you.

They'll look after you, dear.

>> Yes, I know. Have you got your sandwich?

>> Yes. Yes, I have.

>> Tomato, cheese, and there was some nice

fish.

>> Goodbye, Daddy.

>> Goodbye, dear.

I didn't bring a package.

>> I'm sorry we were in such a hurry

packing.

>> Mr. and Mrs. Brook Hotel. That's right.

Thank you.

>> Your name, please, sir. Honey. Theodore.

Honey.

>> And your embarcation slip, please.

Miss Teasdale.

Oh, yes. Miss Teasdale.

Uh.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Fasten your safety belt. No smoking,

sir, for the take off.

>> No smoking. I'm so sorry.

>> Fasten your safety belts.

>> Would you like to take your coat off,

sir? You'll be more comfortable.

>> That's right.

>> We haven't many passengers on this trip,

so you can use this seat for your things

if you like.

>> Passen your safety belt, please.

>> I'll just help you do it. That's it. I

want you to fall out.

>> All right, now.

>> Yes. Thank you. You're very kind.

>> I'll be back after we take off to help

you get out of that.

>> Thank you.

Heat.

Heat.

May I have your and may I have your

attention, please? You may unfasten your

seat belts now and smoke if you like. My

name is Margie Cer. This is Peggy

Miller. And we're here to do anything we

can to make your trip pleasant and

comfortable. We'll be glad to give you

refreshments and drinks. It's quite free

of charge and although we both might

regret it personally, no tipping is

permitted.

>> Thank you. And we're glad to have you

aboard.

>> You are, Miss Teale.

>> Thank you.

>> Anything we can do for you?

>> No, thank you very much.

>> Don't you want to get rid of that now?

Might as well make yourself comfortable.

Here's the button to adjust your seat.

Here's the switch for your reading light

when you want it. We'll serve dinner

soon, but maybe you'd like some

sandwiches and a little coffee.

>> Well, I I

>> We have milk, too, if you'd rather.

>> I think a little coffee would be nice. I

brought some sandwiches. My daughter

made them.

>> Her name's Elizabeth. Oh,

>> well, they're probably much better than

ours, then. You sure you didn't bring

your own coffee?

>> No.

>> I'll get you some.

>> Miss,

weren't you? Isn't that Monica Teasdale?

That or that one you were just talking

to?

>> Yes, it is. She's crossed with this

often. A great many of the film stars

do.

>> Are you a fan of hers?

>> Oh, I didn't mean that. I never go to

films. Really? Not since I I haven't

gone in years.

>> Would you like me to take over your

autograph book?

>> Oh, no. No. I don't even have one. I No,

I wouldn't want to trouble it at all.

>> All right. I'll be back with your

coffee.

Didn't

mean to wish the baby on you, but I've

got one making his first trip. Sometimes

they're worse. Brought his own

sandwiches.

>> Hey, the skipper can't find his clown

glasses. He thinks he may have dropped

them in here. Have a look around, will

you, Peggy? He's quite a bit worried.

Almost run into a big one.

>> Oh, no you don't. No new girl jokes

here. She's doing fine. If you've come

for coffee, help yourself. We give pilot

service. Co-pilots note. Oh, so you're

on her side.

>> Which one's the buffin?

>> The buffet?

>> Scientific bloke from Farra. Radio said

he was aboard. Sam thinks we ought to

look around, you know, courtesy of the

drain and all that sort of thing.

>> What's his name?

>> Theodore Honey, believe it or not. Now,

don't tell me where he is. Two to one. I

can find him. I'll take the uncomed

bloke halfway down the starboard side.

Looks as though he didn't have a mother.

>> Mr. Honey in 21.

>> See, can't miss this.

>> From Farnra. I'd been a bright lassie.

I've been talking to him as though he'd

never seen a plane before.

>> I'll question the master intelligence. I

suppose he speaks our language.

>> Well, let him have his coffee first.

>> All right. I'll come down for him when

we've hit the step. We'll only give him

the six-inut tour. He may ask a few

questions we can't answer.

>> You are, Mr. Honey. No idea you were an

expert on aviation. I deserve a prize

for talking to you as though you'd never

flown before.

>> Oh, well, I never have flown before.

What I know about airplanes is more of

when they're in pieces.

>> Well, you seem to be quite famous,

Captain Samuelson sent down word. He'd

like to show you over the plane, flight

deck and all. They don't do that for

everyone.

>> Well, you're all being very nice, but

>> I think you'd be interested. These new

reindeers are beautifully equipped. Ray

on everything.

>> Is this a reindeer we're in?

>> That's right. A nice new shiny one.

Well, I I think I'd like to see it very

much.

>> Well, the co-pilot will be down for you,

but don't hurry. Enjoy your sandwiches.

>> Over here. Pressure analyzer for the

cabin. Now, will you come this way, Mr.

Honey?

>> Thank you, Captain. You're welcome.

Please step down, please. Now the engine

instruments are here. Hank can tell if a

cylinder misfires just once and which

one it is. I think he could take a

reading on whether his girlfriend's help

with someone else or not. Now mind

ahead, sir.

>> Find it, Magg.

>> Yep. Fuses keep relying on the

undercarriage safety circuit.

>> Here we have the radar screen, sir.

Radio altter, radio compass, DF loop.

>> Excuse me.

>> DRC repeater, which is duplicated on the

pilot's panel just in case.

>> Oh, well, I don't suppose many things go

wrong these days.

>> Almost never. Won't even use

reconditioned engines in this line. We

get new ones every 600 hours. They're

pretty things.

>> They're really obsolete, though.

>> They're good enough for me. Not a

cylinder's miss to take yet. This is the

third set. Have me out of a job if they

don't kick up a little something soon.

>> Oh, well, I I wouldn't think that that

would happen.

>> Did you say the third set?

>> That's right.

>> But I thought the reindeers were new on

this run. They are on this run, but this

was one of the first two built and the

builders wanted some experience with the

ship before turning the fleet over to

this line. So, we were loaned out for a

while on the South American run.

>> For how long?

>> Quite a while.

Could you tell me exactly how many hours

this airplane has flown?

>> Certainly. It's right here.

>> 1422 up to takeoff. Anything else, sir?

>> No.

We have dual ADF indicators.

>> Well, did you learn all about airplanes?

>> Mr. Thompson, I must speak to the

captain at once. Captain Sanders is very

busy, Mr. Honey. If there's something I

can do, I

>> Mr. Doson, please tell the captain I

have every reason to believe this

airplane's in very serious danger, and I

insist on speaking to him. Please.

>> I'll see what I can do.

>> Well, Mr. Honey, what's all this about?

I understand you're not very happy about

something.

>> Captain, this airplane and everybody in

it is in very serious danger, and you

must turn back at once.

>> Um, what sort of danger,

>> Captain? I've been working on a theory

in nuclear fishing. I used the tail

plane of a reindeer as a basis.

According to my calculations, it'll fail

in 1440 hours. Now,

>> I see. But now, this is a theory.

>> I assure you, I've done a great deal of

work on this, Captain. This airplane has

flown in 1422 hours as of takeoff. The

tail plane can fail at any moment.

>> Mr. Honey, I don't believe you realize

the very strict procedures under which

an airline operates. But have you ever

heard of an airworthiness certificate?

>> But this is something entirely new,

Captain. This is nobody knows anything

about this.

>> Why don't they know? It seemed very

strange if Farra wouldn't let us in on a

problem like that. Mr. Honey, have they

definitely accepted your theory?

>> Well, they there is no proof. No, not

the way you mean it. That's the reason

I'm on my way to Labrador right now to

investigate that crash. That airplane

crashed at 147 hours within hours of my

calculations. less time than this

airplane has flown.

>> But you know the tail group failed.

>> The tail group wasn't found with the

wreckage. Every minute that

>> But the truth of the matter is that

apart from the coincidence of the crash,

all of this is just your opinion.

>> Now look, Mr. Honey, would you feel

happier if we went down together and had

a look at the tail spar?

>> It won't do any good. It'll happen very

suddenly. One moment the tail plane spar

will be perfectly normal and the next

moment the the whole character of the

metal will change and the tail will

break off, Captain. or quite suddenly

and you'll go into a dive from which you

can't recover.

>> Your only chance, Captain, is to turn

back immediately. You can cut your

inboard engines to break up the

vibration frequency, land at the first

available airport. And if you don't do

it, Captain, this airplane's going to

crash into the sea. We're all going to

be killed.

I see.

Tell you what I'll do. I'll radio back a

full report of all you tell me. And if

London tell me to turn back, I will.

Meanwhile, I'll cut the inboard notice

as you suggest. It'll make us late to

gander, but I'll take that

responsibility.

But I warn you, there won't be anyone at

the airport to make a decision like

that. And this time of day, they find it

very difficult to find anyone who can.

Very well, Captain. Let's wish ourselves

luck.

Well, I've heard a good many strange

things in my life, but that's way ahead

by a mile.

>> Oh, you better put it on the horn for

London, Peter. I wouldn't miss unloading

a report like that on the boys for half

my pension.

>> Right.

>> Well, give him something to think about

anyway. Here it goes.

London radio from flight 26. London

radio from flight 26.

>> Okay, sir.

>> Yeah.

>> London radio flight 26.

Over.

>> Hey, Marjorie. I've got news for you.

You're Buffett's crackers.

>> What's the matter? Did he ask you some

questions you couldn't answer?

>> Clean off his rocker. He says the tail's

going to fall off.

>> He didn't.

>> He did and with variations. Sam thinks

you ought to keep an eye on him in case

he gets violent.

>> But he didn't seem to be like that. He

>> thinks you ought to stop it vibrating.

Ruddy little squirt. I'd like to vibrate

him. Sam's ring through if you need

help.

Heat. Heat.

May I look at her for just a moment?

>> Go ahead.

Is there anything I can do to help?

Thank you very much.

>> What? What? What's all that about?

>> Like the tour they gave him, I suppose.

So, he's having one of his own. Coffee,

Sam?

>> No, no, thanks. Not just now. I um want

to get some cigarettes in my bag.

Heat. Heat.

Miss Teasdale.

Miss Teasdale.

>> Huh?

>> You don't know me, Miss Teasdale. Honey

is my name. Theodore Honey. And I I just

couldn't help it. I'd like to talk to

you.

>> Of course. I'd be very pleased.

>> I've always I'm Mrs. Honey and I, we've

always I've always felt I owed you a

great deal. Your pictures meant a lot to

my wife, and that's why I want to talk

to you.

>> You're very kind.

>> It's about May I?

>> Certainly.

>> It's about the condition of this

airplane. I'm afraid we're in very

serious danger. I I'm rather afraid the

tail may drop off at any moment. Now,

when that happens, there may So,

>> yes. When that happens, there may be a

little time. So, go to the men's room

and sit on the floor. The petition there

is very rigid because the galley stove

is bulleted to the floor on the other

side. Now, if you survive the first

impact, try to get out of the escape

hatch and get to a life raft. They may

pick you up when they search for us in

the morning.

>> That's certainly very interesting.

Go to the men's room.

>> Yes.

>> Sit on the floor.

Oh no.

>> According to these calculations, honey,

>> I'm afraid Miss Teasdale's very tired.

We really ought to let her rest for a

while. Don't you think so?

>> Yes, I'm a little tired, but thank you

very much, Mr. Honey.

>> Please, Mr. Honey.

>> I'm sorry. I was only trying to help.

>> I'm sure you will. Some other time,

perhaps.

>> You shouldn't have done that, Mr. Honey.

>> It's quite clear I shouldn't have.

>> I'm sure you don't want to alarm people.

You might even cause a panic. You won't

do it again, will you?

>> No. No, I won't do it again.

>> I know you're very worried. Isn't there

anything I can do?

>> You know all about this, don't you?

>> Yes. The pilot had to tell me.

>> You've been very kind to me, and I'm

sorry I made trouble.

>> Oh, no. Mr. Honey, you really didn't

make any trouble. It's only that.

>> I think I'd like to tell you what I was

trying to tell Miss Teasdale.

>> Well, do if it'll make you feel any

better. Well, I think I know more about

this than either you or the captain. I

think I know what's going to happen. And

if it does happen at this altitude,

there'll be a little less than 3 minutes

before we hit the water. Now, there's

one place in this airplane where a

person would have a chance to survive

that impact.

Come with me.

Now, the first sign of trouble, go in

here and sit on the floor with your back

against the petition here. See this part

here? I'll show you. This petition is

very rigid because the stove here is

molded to the floor. I tried to tell

Miss Teasdale that because I felt that I

owed her something. But now I I want you

to know I won't talk to anybody else.

>> It's good of you to have told me all

this, Mr. Honey. No one's worried about

me like that for quite a while.

>> Yes, but you will remember what I told

you when it happened.

>> I'll certainly remember. I can't promise

to do it. I'm one of the crew and there

are quite a few things to do if anything

happened like that. But thank you just

the same.

>> Do it if you can, though. I think we're

going to be all right, Mr. Honey.

>> But in any event, there's nothing we can

do about it. It's kind of you to worry

about me, but please don't.

>> Why don't you try and get some rest

instead?

>> Yes, all right.

>> I think that crisis is over now, Miss

Tele. I don't think it'll happen again.

>> What's the matter with that little man?

I think he was just trying to do

something for you, but I'm afraid he's

got some rather odd ideas.

>> Certainly has. He told me to sit on the

floor in the men's room. That isn't an

odd idea. I'd like to meet one.

>> I think he was trying to tell you the

best place to be if there was an

accident.

>> Is that what I ought to do?

>> I think he's right about it being the

safest place.

>> But if he's right about that, he may be

right about the tail falling off. Who is

he?

>> Just one of the passengers. Some kind of

scientist, I think. And you know, they

don't often track. Oh,

>> the altitude, Miss Teasdale, sometimes

causes a highly nervous state in certain

passengers. I'm sure that it had that

effect on Mr. Honey for a while, but

he's quiet now.

>> That's more than I am. There's about to

be another passenger on this plane in a

highly nervous state.

>> I assure you, Miss Teasdale, there's

nothing to be alarmed about. Captain

Samson's head along.

>> Now, listen, dear. The scientist says

this plane is going to crash. The

captain says it isn't. Your vote doesn't

count because you had to string along

with the captain. It leaves it a tie.

What's that?

>> He seems to be saving fuel. I really

>> don't do that without a reason.

>> I thought you said he didn't believe it.

>> But all I meant, M.

>> Just a minute. If I'm going to meet my

maker, I would like to know about it.

Now, I'll tell you what you can do. You

can go and get a cup of coffee and bring

it to me over there.

>> No, Miss Teasdale. I've just got him

quiet, please.

>> Right now, I don't want him quiet. There

are lots of things I want him to talk

about. I wouldn't do it.

>> I just go and get the coffee.

>> Mr. Honey, I was only half awake and I

only half heard what you were trying to

tell me. May I sit down for a minute?

>> Yes, certainly.

>> Thank you.

>> Would you like a cigarette?

>> No, thank you.

>> Now, she tells me you're a scientist.

>> Be careful.

>> Lawren,

no, thank you.

>> Right, we'll do. Listening up.

Airport say they can't make any decision

about turning back and they've never

heard of any trouble with the tail. But

they try and contact someone at a higher

level at the airline or the minister,

but it may take some time. Till then,

they want you to use your own judgment.

They also want us to keep an eye out for

a small boat, some crackpot trying to

sail the Atlantic single-handed. Fine.

He may be in trouble.

>> Mhm. Well, if we see him, we'll stop and

ask him what we ought to do about it.

All right. Now, I estimate it would

require a speed of 420 mph to bring the

forces into equilibrium. This could be

attained by a downward flight path of 7°

below the horizontal. That angle would

keep us from plunging straight in.

Although, at that speed, the impact

would be rather severe. You see,

>> I see.

I don't see at all, of course. But I do

understand that when you think something

out, you don't stop halfway, do you?

But the pilot, he should understand you.

Why doesn't he turn back?

>> Well, it was rather difficult for the

pilot. You see, I imagine that all this

may sound a little improbable if you

haven't studied it.

>> Would it help if I would go and talk to

him?

>> No. No, I don't think so. And I think

we're quite near to the point of no

return. Anyway,

>> the point of no return?

>> That's where it's as short to go on as

it is to turn back.

>> Oh,

I thought you meant something else.

Miss Teasdale, would you like your

coffee in your own seat?

>> No, put it over here. Oh, as a matter of

fact, let's go back there where we won't

wake anybody no matter how much we talk

and where I can say my prayers if I feel

like it. Will that be all right?

>> Yes, Mr.

>> Good. Then we can all stop worrying.

Who's going to sit where? Come on, Mr.

Honey.

That's it. Halfway just

>> Okay.

Well, Peter, listen. If they call you on

that thing again, we can tell them to

tell the high ups. They needn't bother

making a decision about turning back.

All right. Next stop, Gander.

>> Right.

>> I had a Canary once. Didn't have any

tail. seems all right.

Funny, I would have thought I'd feel

quite differently being right up against

it like this. My mind is going twice as

fast as those were trying to catch up

with all the thinking it didn't get

around to.

All those people there makes you wonder

which one you would pick out to save if

you were God

and which one would matter much.

>> What are you thinking?

>> Oh, I don't know. I never thought much

about things like that.

>> No, you didn't have much time. You were

so busy with your multiplication table.

But you had a chance to play God for a

little while.

Why did you pick me out when you decided

to save someone?

>> Oh, but you ought to live.

I mean, the work you do, you should keep

on doing it.

>> Oh, the work. No, I don't think I buy

that. A few cans of Saleloid in a junk

heap someday.

Has been fun, but that's bottom.

No, the work you do. If you could have

finished that, all these people and lots

more wouldn't be in the spot they're in

right now.

That's the kind of work that should be

finished.

>> No,

I think I'd picked you.

>> Well, it's very nice of you to say that,

Miss Teasdale.

But I think it'll be all right about the

work. The work will get done. I think

it'll be all right about me.

>> Haven't you any family?

>> Yes, I have. That's my little girl.

>> Oh, you have a little girl?

>> Yeah.

>> But that's worth a lot to come back to.

>> Oh, yes. Well, I didn't mean that. I

wouldn't like to, but we're really very

fond of one another. Uh, what I'm I I

I've been thinking about that

and I She's 12 now. Her character is

formed. I think Mary did that mostly.

She That's my wife. I I wish it didn't

have to be like that, but I she's

developed to such a point. I I think

she's going to be all right. Of course,

I I've been able to help in a lot of

things. I She's much more soundly

developed than most children her age.

Really has a remarkable grasp of

crystalallography.

>> Well, that's very good. Of course. What

is it?

>> Well, it's quite fundamental. It's

always been odd to me the schools don't

teach it. No. I I've really had to help

her and almost everything she know is

worth knowing.

>> Has she got a comeback?

>> What?

>> A comeback? Oh, compact. I don't know

what.

>> Never mind.

That isn't it?

>> Mm- No.

>> Some more minutes. And each one is like

kind of a present, isn't it?

>> You know what I was thinking about just

then?

All the people who come to my funeral.

That'll be quite an occasion.

>> Do you have a family, Mina? No,

not even a husband at the moment. But

there's my agent. Oh, it'll be so sad.

He had five more years to go at 10%.

And then as Lorine call Oh, she cry the

most. She'll give a beautiful

performance and then she'll try to get

the part in the picture I was going to

make. I suppose that's why I don't feel

the way I thought I would. I would have

stopped working quite a while ago if I

could have figured out what to do with

myself.

I was married three times, but it never

came to anything. I wouldn't be

surprised it was all my fault.

Maybe Providence is trying to tell me

something.

Maybe it took a first class high dive

into the middle of the Atlantic to make

me quit.

And maybe I'd rather it end it with a

big splash.

>> No. No. You You've made people happy you

don't even know about. Like my wife

Mary. You No. She took me to see one of

your pictures that last night before the

bomb came.

>> She talked about it a lot when we got

home.

You made that last night very happy for

her. That's worth doing, Miss Tease

Dale.

You know, when we used to go to

pictures, we used to walk right out on

them when Mary didn't like them.

We never walked out on one of your

pictures.

Mr. Honey, this is not exactly the best

compliment I've ever had.

>> Maybe it's the nicest.

>> That's why I had to tell you what I did.

I have to do everything I can for you.

>> You mean it, too, don't you?

You scientists are always so busy

figuring out new things.

Why don't you figure out it was carrot

that won't run?

>> Well, I'm afraid that's a little out of

my field.

>> All right, I'd be as good as new in a

minute. Thanks for holding my hand.

I wouldn't mind seeing something. I

don't care very much what

>> land ought to be around here somewhere

if I haven't nailed it wrong.

>> How late are we?

>> Around 28 minutes.

>> About time I got them on their feet,

isn't it?

>> Leave them alone. This Scott Gander

airfield closed in. You may have to sit

up here till it breaks.

>> Oh, fine.

Want some coffee?

>> No.

Start the inboard motors to land. Hank

can't feather two and three. Is it?

>> How long?

>> Oh, about half an hour.

>> I'll get them crashing back then.

>> Well, take that coffee now. Thanks.

>> Right. Take his hand. Call Gander tower.

Tell him I want the runway clear. Tell

him I'm coming straight in on a direct

approach.

>> Okay.

>> Asking for an emergency landing.

>> What's up?

>> I don't know. He said it was a long

story. You better phone AOA flight 52

and tell them to keep circling. I'll

look after things down here.

>> Hello.

Miss Teasdale.

Miss Teasdale, we land in 20 minutes.

Would you like some coffee?

>> 20 minutes? We're that close.

We're still all in one piece.

>> Yes. It's a lovely clear night.

>> So it is. The stars are out.

Go back to my seat.

>> Would you like some coffee, Mr. Honey?

>> No, thank you.

>> You did have rather a lot, didn't you?

I'm sorry you had to be so worried, but

I think we're quite all right. Now,

>> we're all very lucky.

You'll go back to your seat and fasten

your safety belt for the landing. Watch

it.

>> Gear down. Gear down. Watch on the can

switcher. See if the locks are right.

>> All flaps. All up.

>> Reverse pitch.

Looks all right to me. I don't know what

he was in such a hurry about.

Right.

>> Quite a night, Mr. Honey. I guess you

must have multiplied someplace. You

should have divided.

>> Steale,

>> how long do we stay here? about an hour.

I think so.

>> Thank you.

>> Yes, we can.

Sure.

Mr. Honey,

will you come with me, please? Will you

come to Miss Gorder?

>> Wow. What was the trouble?

>> Any news for me from London?

>> No, not a thing.

>> No, there wouldn't be. That'll make it

too easy. Where's the ARB inspector?

>> He's probably asleep.

>> Well, get him up. I want that aircraft

inspected. There's no aircraft's been

inspected in history. Every ruddy inch

of it down to the last rivet. Doson,

sir. You better break it to the

passengers. There's going to be a delay.

Hi, sir. Miss Corder.

>> Sir,

>> if as I expect this inspection of

satisfaction we take off, I'm taking

responsibility for refusing to carry Mr.

Honey on the flight as I consider his

presence an unnecessary hazard. I'll

arrange that all other flights leaving

this airfield are adequately informed

about him before they carry him.

Meanwhile, it's your responsibility to

see he doesn't get in touch with any of

the other passengers. I don't want them

alarmed by what in my opinion are

groundless and unnecessary fears. Go

there.

>> Yes, sir.

>> Right. Let's go.

I feel rather like a police woman. I

don't like it very much. Well,

>> I don't want to make any more trouble

for you, Miss Carter. Where do you want

me to go?

>> I know an office. Come on. Let's try and

make it the nicest arrest that's ever

happened.

>> Are we going to leave on time? We're

late already. You know,

>> there'll be a short delay. The captain

wants an inspection. That's all. It

won't take long. Mr. Honey,

>> they say it'll be 2 hours. It means

it'll be 3 hours. It just ruins them. I

would like to tell somebody what this is

going to cost me. Some coffee, please.

>> The one I like best was the one where

you killed your husband. Thought that

was smashing.

>> Oh, yes. I like that, too.

>> Well, that's nice and comfortable. I'll

bring you something to eat if you like.

Bacon and eggs. All right.

>> Yes, that'd be very nice.

>> I think it's better that you stay here,

Mr. Honey. Some of the passengers get

very upset about delays and they might

find out it was you and say things they

didn't really mean.

>> Well, I'll do anything you say, Miss

Carter.

>> Good. I'll be back in no time.

I'm

>> sorry.

I brought your bag in from the plane.

You really do travel light, don't you?

>> Do you think the captain's going on?

>> I suppose so. Unless they find something

wrong. Now, come on while it's hot.

>> But they won't find anything wrong. I

told him that. I I wish people didn't

think they knew everything.

>> You really believe it's going to crash

whether they find anything or not?

>> Yes. Yes, I do believe that. Well, I

told him. Just have to make his own

decision now.

>> Just one thing I'd like to get clear.

How sure are you about this? You said it

was going to happen last night and it

didn't. And you said you really didn't

have any proof.

>> Well, I I'm quite sure. I worked it out

through three different channels and the

results all agree. Of course, I won't

know until the evidence of my test. But

I I suppose if the captain goes ahead,

Miss Teasdale will go too.

>> I expect she will.

>> I I I think she believed me for a little

time last night and and I don't think

she did. You know, it' be nice if you

and Captain Samuelson could argue this

out and get together on whether it's

going to fall apart or not. This is

getting cold.

>> That plane in Labrador, that was proof

in a way.

I suppose there was a stewardist on that

one, too.

>> Yes. Yes, I knew them both very well.

>> Couldn't you believe me, Miss Corder?

You've been so very kind and you you

ought to live and get married and bring

up a family. You'd be very good at that.

>> Well, thank you very much for that, Mr.

Honey. You said that just about as

nicely as anybody could.

You know, I'd almost not go if it would

help you stop worrying, but it's my job

and there's no way of making sure and I

don't think it's right to walk out on

something like that. Do you know what I

mean?

>> I think everything will be all right if

Captain Samuelson says so. He knows a

great deal about aircraft.

Now, why don't you eat that up? It'll

let you feel better.

>> All right.

>> Attention, please. Passengers, reindeer,

flight 26, please be ready to board your

plane in 20 minutes for the flight to

Montreal. Flight 26, please be ready to

board your plane in 20 minutes for

Montreal.

Well,

I'd better be going.

I won't lock you in if you promise not

to speak to any of the passengers.

>> I won't.

>> Well, goodbye, Mr. Honey. We'll see you

in Montreal.

And please don't worry.

No danger, of course, once we're in the

air.

>> Well, that's okay. If you keep a man

standing by the lever here on both

taking off and landing, you'll know we

catch the coat in

>> Right. I'll see you there.

>> What are you doing here,

>> Captain? I just happened to be there.

>> Well, now that you're here, I want you

to listen.

I've told the inspector to hear all that

you told me. Now, if you have anything

to add, I want to hear it now, and I

want him to hear it.

>> No, sir. I I I don't have anything to

add.

>> As London apparently doesn't take your

opinion sufficiently seriously to order

this aircraft grounded. I'm flying

around to Montreal, and I want you to

get off and stay off.

>> Captain, you mustn't take off on this

airplane. You can't do it. Believe me,

mathematics is a very exact science.

>> Explain that already, Mr. Captain.

>> It'll be just like the one in Labrador,

the stewardist, all these people. Not

for the last time. CAPTAIN,

>> LEAVE THAT ALONE. YOU FOOL.

CUT THE CLOCK.

That swine. He wanted it wrecked. That

inhuman swine. Cut that out.

>> What you let him loose for? Better take

him out of this fourth passengers find

out he did it.

>> You better come with me, Mr. Honey.

It just folded up. It just folded right

up and sat down.

>> Well, there'll really be a delay for

everybody now, won't there?

>> I don't think there's any doubt about

that.

Tell me why.

>> He did do it, didn't he?

>> Yes, I'm afraid he did. If you believe

in something, you believe in doing

something about it, don't you?

>> Well, they wouldn't listen to me, and

the lever was right there, so I just

pulled it.

>> That's sticking your neck out pretty

far, isn't it? If you just thought it

was going to crack.

>> I tried to get them to ground the

airplane. They wouldn't listen to me,

and the lever was right there, so I just

I

>> You just pulled it. Don't those things

cost an awful lot of money.

>> Oh, a tremendous amount of money. Oh,

this is going to cause a great deal of

trouble.

>> I should think it might. I

>> I don't know what they're going to do.

I've never had any experience with

anything like this before.

>> I should think nobody has. I think this

is a kind of a world record.

You didn't do that one for yourself

either, did you? You could have been

sitting right here on the ground when we

took off.

Looks to me like this was the men's room

deal, multiplied by quite a lot. Look,

you keep them here. Some of the

passengers won't be too pleased about

all this. I'd like to find out what the

payoff's going to be. Come to think of

it, I think I ought to.

>> Oh, it's very nice of you not to be

angry about the delay.

>> Oh, it's worth it. You don't meet a

world record every day.

Well, I don't know whether to be glad or

sorry I didn't lock the door. It never

occurred to me you do anything like

that.

>> Well, it never occurred to me either. I

I suppose the airline will be very

angry.

>> That I'm afraid is probably quite an

understatement.

>> I can't imagine what the establishment

will think.

I suppose I better let them know what

I've done.

>> I imagine they'll hear about it.

>> Uh-huh.

>> Man kills airplane. There's apt to be

quite a lot in the papers about that.

>> Oh dear. Well, Elizabeth will find out

about it. I can't imagine what she'll

think either.

>> Look, Mr. Honey, we'll probably be sent

back to London for reassignment after

they've sent another plane to pick up

the passengers. Would it help if I went

to see your little girl and told her you

were all right?

>> Well, would you do do that for me?

There's no telling what she'll hear, is

there?

>> Well, whatever she hears, I imagine

she'll understand.

>> Well, wish I did.

I would suggest that it is the solemn

duty for anyone who can find anything

remotely humorous in all this to share

it with those of us who are less

fortunate.

>> Why, I couldn't help it, sir. Old honey

dropping a reindeer right on its belly.

It's very

>> I see your point though. I can't

precisely enjoy it at the moment. I

don't remember another day like it. Half

England's been on the telephone to me

today. I think if one more person,

friend or enemy, calls to ask if I have

heard that our Mr. Honey has wrecked an

aircraft at Gander by pulling up the

undercart,

I'll

we'd better sort some kind of order out

of all this.

>> The chairman of the airline, Mr. David

Moon, calling you, sir.

>> I thought I said I'd take no more calls

today. He said I was to take the

telephone to you no matter where you

were.

>> All right, I'll take it.

>> Hello.

>> Yes. Yes. Put him through.

>> There are quite a few other calls, sir.

>> You surprised me. Ah, the other half's

getting in fast. The ministry, the ARB,

the Treasury, every newspaper man in the

empire. Hello.

Oh, hello. Hello, Sir David. It's nice

to hear from you. Oh, yes. That I very

much heard. I have no way of knowing

what he could have been thinking of.

We'll get him back for the inquiry, of

course. And then perhaps when I've

talked to him, I can

Oh, I don't think you could mean that,

sir David. No, no, I'm not at all

prepared to assume he's a lunatic. At

least not yet.

Yes, I quite realize that. But I don't

think there's anything to be gained by

losing our tempers. I want Hello. Hello.

Where are the papers?

>> I thought you'd want to see them, did

you?

>> I'm not so sure.

Ah, here we are. David and Goliath. Mr.

Theodore, honey, as David brings down

the reindeer single-handed. There was

one that called him the Galahad of the

airways. This is better. So, David's

idea, eloquently put, was there isn't

enough money in the Bank of England to

pay for the damage done to themselves in

British aviation by the implication of

the safety of their aircraft.

He did manage to sandwich in they

wouldn't guarantee to bring him back.

But he refused to allow any more of

their passengers to travel with an

irresponsible madman who went about

wrecking airplanes. He suggested the RAF

might carry him. They were equipped to

take risks. Well, I can lay that on sir

if he really means it.

>> No, he means it and we'll have to have

him back to inquiry. And that means

>> Miss Teasdale is here to see you, sir.

>> Teasdale? Who is Miss Teasdale?

>> It's Monica Teasdale, the film star,

sir.

>> What's the film star doing here? Tell

her I'm sorry. I can't hand her over to

Major Pearl.

>> She said she wanted to see you about Mr.

Honey. She crossed on the plane with him

last night.

>> But how can she be here? Ask to wait 2

minutes. I'll see her. Well, gentlemen,

there's one thing we can settle. You

must send someone else off to Labrador.

We mustn't show up for that inquiry

without supporting evidence of some

kind. But for heaven's sake, send

someone this time who could keep his

mind on what he's trying to do. No more

buffins.

>> It is my opinion, Sir John, that even

this trouble should not lead us to

saying that all scientists are foolish

men and not to be trusted.

>> From what department did the gentleman

come who took a bath in the public

fountain and subsequently conceived the

brilliant idea of pinching girls in the

park?

>> I ask you to remember, sir, John, that

the last time we decide not ever to

mention this incident again. I think

that's all for today, gentlemen, except

for finding out what film stars have to

do with all this. Johnson.

>> Yes.

>> Ask Mr. Teleale to come in.

>> Very good,

>> Mr. Scott. I'd like you to stay. Good

day, gentlemen.

>> Good night.

>> It's Tuesday, John.

>> How do you do, sir John? How kind of you

to see me?

>> Not at all, MJ. Let me present Mr.

Scott.

>> How do you do? You're his boss, aren't

you? I've heard a great deal about you.

>> Sit down, please.

>> Thank you.

>> Did we hear correctly that you were on

the plane last night with Mr. Honey?

>> That's right.

>> Well, I don't understand. How did you

get back here?

>> There was a plane coming through headed

this way, and I got on it.

>> But if you want to know why I'm here,

that'll take a lot longer to tell you.

>> Did he ask you to give us any message?

>> No, he doesn't even know I'm here.

>> If you couldn't give us any idea what

really happened, Tisdale, we should be

very grateful indeed. They were going to

take off, although we told them they

shouldn't. And the lever was right

there. He just pulled it. You've never

seen such a commotion in your life. I

guess a thing like that has never

happened before in the history of the

world.

>> Fortunately, no. Have you known Mr.

Honey long?

>> No. I just met him last night right

after we took off. He came to tell me

that he thought we were in trouble.

>> But why should he want to alarm you, a

passenger, when there was nothing you

could do about it?

>> He thought there was something I could

do. He gave me his reasons, and they

were good enough for me.

>> Did you believe him? What did he do?

Explain his theory? He did and I

believed him.

>> Did you understand it?

>> Not the word.

>> But I don't understand.

>> Oh, it isn't so hard, sir. John,

>> I don't know much about mathematics, but

I know when a man knows what he's

talking about. Have you like?

>> Of course.

>> May I smoke?

>> Certainly.

>> I don't understand a thing about his

theory, but I've learned quite a lot

about Mr. Honey, and I'm no reason crazy

like they're saying out there. That

funny little man is brave and kind and

on the level and he believed what he was

telling me. But even I can see it's

going to be awfully easy to settle a lot

of things by throwing him to the wolves

to say he's crazy and let it go at that.

That's why I wanted to meet the people

he worked for to see if they're going to

stand by him.

Somebody's got to, you know.

>> Miss Teasdale, I'd like to pay you a

compliment. You believe in things, too.

And that's very nice to see. But I have

to add this. I don't know whether Mr.

Honey is right or wrong. Neither does

Mr. Scott any more than you do. There's

no way of knowing. But that certainly

doesn't mean we're going to back up Mr.

Honey blindly. There's a matter called

the truth which has to be served. It's a

difficult thing the truth in a case like

this. And the most I can promise you is

we'll do our utmost to get at it. And we

hope it's going to be on Mr. Honey's

side.

Well, the truth is a good deal anyway.

I don't think there was much need in my

coming, but I'm glad I did.

>> Thank you, sir, for giving me your time.

Very quiet.

Goodbye.

>> I'll see you at your car.

>> Thank you.

>> He means the trouble is going to be

pretty bad. I'm afraid so.

>> Isn't there anything I could do for Mr.

Honey? Where can I find his little girl?

Maybe I could go there and tell her that

he's all right.

>> Oh, I think that would be very nice.

I'll tell your driver where to go. Oh,

>> please don't bother. You tell me at the

gate.

>> All right.

>> Bye, Mr. Scott. And thank you. Goodbye

TC.

Governor

and see

Honey, of course I know him. Where have

you put him?

>> He seems rather hot. Sir John, I wasn't

sure if you'd wish to see him.

>> Sir John, I want to protest very

strongly. Why has my work been taken out

of my hand?

>> Supposing we go somewhere where we have

a little chat.

>> I'm not in the habit of going around

wrecking things. You ought to know that.

It's my work that

>> Hold on for a minute, Mr. Honey. Come

this way with me.

>> Mr. Scott, I must borrow you for a few

minutes. A friend of yours has arrived.

>> Hello, Mr. Honey. Yes.

>> Come this way.

>> So, as far as we're concerned, there's

only one decision to be made and one

only. Whether we should allow the

remaining reindeers to go on flying. If

they're to be grounded, that must be

done at half your estimate. We dare not

cut safety finer than that. The

inquiries have been deferred until the

last possible moment for making that

decision, which fortunately gives time

enough for your test to reach the 1440

mark, plus some margin of error. That's

why it isn't yours anymore, no one

else's. Too much depends on it. If your

test is a success, the airline and

everyone else will be very grateful to

you. If it isn't, and we don't get

supporting evidence of some kind from

Labrador, then, and this is the

difficult part, Mr. Honey, so I'll put

it bluntly. Since none of them believe

for a moment the test will succeed, they

feel it imperative that they should be

prepared to issue as effective and a

sweeping a statement as possible to

offset the almost ruinous publicity that

reindeers have received. That yours was

an act of an irresponsible unbalanced

mind which they believe to be true. And

they want the supporting opinion of

qualified psychologists.

In other words, they wish to test you as

well as the tailpiece.

to see if I'm insane.

>> That's right.

>> Do you think I'm insane?

I don't think you are, Mr. Honey, any

more than I think you make a habit of

going about wrecking things. But there's

no way to know that. I'd hate to have

them look me over at the moment. But

just now, I haven't the right to take

anything for granted. Please understand

this. I couldn't refuse without making

it look like a blind defense of my

staff. But you can refuse if you like.

That's your right.

>> No, I won't refuse.

Let them cry and poke if they want to.

Tell them I'll be in my office if they

want to see me.

What about you, Mr. Scott? Do you think

I'm in?

No. Well, there been no way for you to

know either, would

>> it?

>> Who's that?

>> Oh, Mr. Honey.

>> Well, I bet you're

>> Mr. Honey, it's me, Marjorie Cer. We

didn't expect you back tonight. But I

stayed with else, but somebody had to.

>> Well, that's very

>> You must be tired. Have you had anything

to eat?

>> I I don't.

>> You probably didn't. I'll get you

something.

>> We had lobster for supper. Do you like

cold lobster?

>> I can man.

>> It keeps me in practice. Now, why don't

you go upstairs and take a look at SP

Well, did you notice anything?

>> Well, she was asleep.

>> Anything different? I meant about the

house.

>> You You haven't got your clothes on.

>> No, in the room. The curtains.

>> Curtains?

What?

Where did this come from?

>> Well, that was a present from Miss

Teasdale.

>> Miss Teasdale? What is she here too?

>> No, she went to London for the night.

She got some lovely things for else's

room, too. Now, why don't you eat your

supper?

>> Well, what did she want to do a thing

like that for?

>> I think you'd be surprised. I imagine

you were glad to see Farmer again. Did

you stop by the laboratory?

>> Yes. Yes, I looked in.

>> Well, you don't seem exactly happy about

that. Was there something wrong there?

>> No. No. Yes. Yes, there was something

wrong. I I can't expect to get any work

done with people standing around peering

at me. I I'm now known as the Galahad of

the airways. I I heard someone saying,

"Imagine old honey collecting a poppy

like Monica Teasdale."

>> Well, I expect they were just trying to

be friendly. I thought you were rather a

Galahad when you told Miss Teedell and

me what to do in case there was an

accident. It's not such a bad thing to

be. Yes. Shall I do that for you? No,

>> I can vanish here.

>> You know, it's my fault anyway. If you

do anything wrong, you have no one to

blame but yourself.

Jack, what what was it that you thought

you did wrong? You You did think there'd

be a crash, didn't you?

>> Yes, but what I should have done is

offer my hypothesis to the captain in an

orderly manner and let him make his own

decision. But I didn't do that. No. When

they wouldn't listen to me, I kept

thinking about you lying dead up there

in Labrador like that other stewardist

and Miss Teasdale and all the rest of

them. And I wasn't orderly at all. Not

at all. And the lever was right there,

so I pull it.

>> And that seemed wrong to you.

>> Of course, it seemed wrong. How is

anybody going to take my work seriously

if I go around doing things like that?

Do you know that they're saying I'm

crazy now? Then I don't blame them.

>> You don't mean that if you had it all to

do again, you just let it go ahead and

crash.

>> Well, that's just the point. I'd

probably do the same thing over again.

I'm quite a weak character, Miss Carter.

The mistake I made was ever leaving

Farnboro. If I just hadn't left there,

and if this all dies down, I swear to

you, I'm never going to leave my

laboratory again.

>> I think I'm a little sorry about that. I

know you have to be a scientist. I know

you have important work to do, but

you're a person, too, Mr. Honey.

>> Well, it's evidently quite difficult to

be a person, Miss Carter.

>> Yes, I suppose it is. But Oh, well,

never mind. And I expect you know what

you're doing. I must clear this up. You

better get some rest. You'll need it.

>> Good night, Miss Carter.

>> Good night, Mr. Honey. I better get my

things out of your way.

>> Things? What?

>> My clothes and things. I'll move into

Ellsworth's room.

>> Well, what you mean? You've been staying

in my Oh,

>> well, what's the matter?

>> Well, I was just thinking of you, Miss

Corder. Don't you think people will

talk?

>> Oh, I see. Well, I'm a nurse. You know,

you have to be to be a stewardist. Would

it make it any better if I got hold of

my nurse's uniform and put it on for the

neighbors to see?

>> Well, I suppose that would

>> Well, that's what I'll do then. I'd like

to come back just to see how things turn

out. Good night, Mr. Honey.

>> Yes.

Well, who is sick?

>> No one. I We had quite a problem last

night. Mr. Honey arrived back in the

small hours. He was so old school about

us both staying here. It was very sweet,

really. And this has to do with

explaining the situation to the

neighbors. I had to run over to Guilford

this morning to get it.

>> It looks as if I missed something by

going up to London last night. Where is

he? I suppose he couldn't wait to get

down to Farbor this morning to see his

play things again.

>> Well, that's exactly what happened.

>> I'd like to hear about it. Some coffee

left.

>> Why don't you come in there?

>> What's the matter with it?

>> Oh, you've been busy.

>> I had nothing else to do. It looks as

though he wears one suit and goes to

sleep in the other. I don't know how

long it can be since he bought something

for himself.

>> I thought you were the one who thought a

man shouldn't have things done for him.

>> That goes for his character, but not

necessarily his trousers.

>> He's very domestic. You're full of

surprises. Tell me something. I've been

thinking about it. How would you go

about getting him to make it under his

own steam? That's what you were holding

out for as I remember.

>> I don't think that part of it is really

any of my business. It's just that I

don't know. We talked a lot last night

and he seemed like a little boy who's

had his first fight and got hurt and so

he says, "I'll never fight again." Well,

he can't keep on running back to his

laboratory. That's all right for the

scientist, but not for him. He will get

into trouble if he does that now. And I

don't think he can make himself do it

really. I think he's better than that.

You must have talked quite a bit.

Funny that a kid like you would bother

to see so much in anybody like him.

>> It's not so funny really. You get around

being a stewardist.

>> That doesn't cover it. You've been

married or a lot in love sometime,

haven't you?

>> I don't think that has anything to do

with it.

>> What was it?

>> You've heard it before. You shot down

over Arnum. We've been married a month.

>> Sure that says it. Maybe it says even

more than you think it does.

Well, this will take some thinking about

and I'll have time for that. I'm leaving

for California tonight. There was a

flock of cables at the Dorchester when I

got there. Studio wants to get going.

>> But this is a little sudden, isn't it?

What about all the things you talked

about helping him to find an answer and

everything?

>> I meant it. Don't think I didn't. And I

still do. Maybe it would have been the

best chance I'll ever have to be a lot

of things I'd like to be. only I suppose

you can't do a thing like that just a

little bit mixing into other people's

lives. I mean you can start something

maybe you can't finish.

What got me was his being so anxious to

save me for posterity. I've never had

anything do my self-esteem so much good.

So I better go back and give posterity

another break. It won't hurt to wait a

while and see how things work out.

That box in there is a dress for

Elizabeth. I saw it in the window and

just yelled to belong to her. Tell her

I'll write, would you?

>> Aren't you going to wait and see them?

>> No, I don't think so. Am I beaten?

>> Hello, Miss T.

>> Look, sugar plum.

>> Hello, Miss Corder. I hurried. I I hoped

you'd be back.

>> Well, here I am. Don't you look pretty.

>> Am I really all right?

>> I've never seen an apple blossom look

quite as sweet.

>> Here's a present for you, honey.

>> Oh, I really shouldn't have another one.

May I look? Of course.

Why don't you take it up to your room

and look at it there? That'll be nicer.

>> All right, I will.

>> It's It's like Christmas, only much more

so.

>> Well,

does that mean goodbye then?

>> Sure, there's no use making anything of

it. It's one thing you learn in my

business, how to get off.

>> I wish you wouldn't go. Maybe I'll be

back. Never can tell.

>> You're a nice kid, Marjorie. I have an

idea. You'll know what's going on. You

might let me know. I get the price on a

laboratory or two, just in case.

>> Well,

good luck.

Keep on telling her she's pretty, will

you?

>> I will, Monica.

Right.

It sounds discouragingly healthy to me.

What's your zero hour exactly?

>> 2:00 this afternoon.

>> Let me know the minute it even shivers.

Heat

up there.

Heat.

Heat.

Well, it hasn't got much longer. The day

an inquiry has just begun.

Oh, I'm afraid I'd forgotten you were

here. I'm sorry. I should have let you

know. Huh?

>> Well, I let Elsa stay down for a while.

What happened?

>> Nothing. Nothing happened at all.

My figures clearly said the tail should

fall off, and the tail didn't fall off.

I It's 7% above my figure. I didn't fall

off. Oh, I'm sorry. Well, what happens

now?

>> Well, I I've been thinking about that on

the way home. I'll go to the inquiry and

I'll stand up and I'll explain my

figures to a group of very angry men and

then they'll reject the whole thing and

I'll sit down.

I'll sit down and listen to them say

that I'm insane because of what I did in

Gander. And perhaps I am.

I'm not sure, you know, but qualified

psychiatrist will testify to that. I

talked to three of them this afternoon

and they

No, that was yesterday, wasn't it? But

they showed me a page of ink blotss and

asked me if it reminded me of elephants

or tigers. Well, I it didn't remind me

of elephants or were just ink blotss.

But

I I think that the truth is only that

I've made a mistake somewhere in my

work. I I don't know where it is. It's

But I have to have time to find out

where the mistake is. But there won't be

any time and my work will be thrown out

in anger and a principle that might have

had one grain of truth in it will will

be lost. But I'll sit there. I'll sit

there and I won't say a word.

>> And then what?

>> Well, there's other work to be done and

I'll get back to doing it somewhere

>> with everything just as it was.

>> Yes.

I'm rather glad it's over.

>> But you can't do that. You can't just

sit there and say nothing. If you

believe something is right, you have to

do it if you want to live with yourself.

If you don't, you'll have to pay for it

sooner or later. And so will Elizabeth.

>> What about Elizabeth?

>> Everything is just to be as it was for

her, too.

>> Yes. She was very glad to have it that

way. She was very happy.

>> Oh, it's as simple as that. I see. Well,

I'm sorry it's the wrong time to talk.

There isn't very much point either.

>> It's my last day, you know, but I'd

rather say goodbye when you come back. I

start my job again tomorrow.

Funny if they put me back on reindeers.

That really would be Gander all over

again, wouldn't it?

>> No, but you wouldn't do that.

>> Supposing I did.

>> Would you let me?

Hello.

It's time to get ready for school, isn't

it?

>> Yes. Did the tail fall off, father?

>> No, dear. It didn't.

>> You mustn't worry about it. It will

someday.

Oh, I don't know, dear. I I suppose it

will.

>> Was anything the matter?

>> No, I was just thinking.

>> What about?

>> Nothing. Just about the impermanence of

events and things like that.

>> What do you mean, dear?

>> Well, about it's all being over. Miss

Teasdale's gone and Miss Corder will be

and the people out in front and and

everybody wanting to talk to me at

school. That sort of thing isn't very

permanent, is it? It's It's like

Christmas. Everybody very nice to

everybody else for a little while, but

then it doesn't last.

Why is that, father?

>> Oh, I don't know, dear.

Don't they talk to you all the time in

school?

>> Oh, no. I'm a SWAT, you know.

>> Oh, I didn't know you were a SWAT. What

is a SWAT?

>> Well, a SWAT is rather the sort of

person that people don't talk to very

much because they're different. Like my

intellectual quotient being too high.

>> Well, do you mind being a SWAT?

>> Oh, no. But it was exciting rather than

not being. Everybody wanting me to get

them autographs and things. But if

things like that are so impermanent,

like Christmas, then it would be much

better if

I I was thinking I put away the things

Miss Teale gave me. And I was thinking

maybe if I didn't go to school anymore,

I'm sure I'd learn much more here with

you because there wouldn't be other

things to think about, things being

impermanent.

>> What? Well, you mustn't do What? What's

the matter, dear?

>> Go away.

>> Oh,

are you sick, dear?

>> I'm all right.

Please go away and leave me alone.

I insist that to ground the reindeer

fleet even for 24 hours would be a tacid

admission of the charge that we have

been flying unsafe aircraft and I refuse

to deal such a death blow to British

transatlantic aviation on what is now

the unsupported opinion of Mr. Theodore

Honey. I'd suggest that the kindest

thing that can be said of Mr. honey, is

that his is an unstable mind with an

obsession that can carry him to great

extremes, as we have well seen in

Gander. I submit it is not only fair,

but imperative that an immediate finding

to that effect be issued by this board.

>> Well, gentlemen, my view is that Mr.

Chairman, I would like to try.

>> Now, wait a minute, Mr. Mr. Chairman,

I'm going to say something now. It isn't

hard to see what you're going to decide,

and you can't do that. Now you're

talking about me because what I did in

Gander and this isn't personal. I didn't

invent the mathematics that made me

believe what I did. And I still believe

that there's truth in my work. Test or

no test. And when you believe in

something, that's what you got to do,

isn't it? If you want to live with

yourself. Now, I don't know what I'm

going to do about this. I sat there and

I thought maybe I might write the Times

a letter, but I don't think they'd

understand either. So, the first thing

I'm going to do is to resign right here

and now so the establishment won't be

mixed up in it. And then every time a

reindeer is going to take off that

shouldn't, I'm going out there and

wreck. Now, you may put me in jail. You

may put me in jail, but they wrote a lot

about me when I wrecked that one and

gander. And they'll write more about me

here. And people just won't get on those

airplanes. And I'm going to tell you

something else. The minute anything does

happen to one of these reindeers, you're

going to have to think of something

better to say than anything I've heard

here this afternoon.

That's all.

Good day. That's all.

Well, gentlemen,

>> good afternoon.

>> You know, there was some sherry around

here someplace. I rather thought I'd

have some.

>> It's over by that bookcase over there.

>> Oh,

>> is it over? Yes. Yes. It's over. I

didn't stay for the end. I made a speech

and then I left.

>> What about?

>> Oh, a whole lot of things. Pretty good

speech, too.

>> So, you couldn't just sit there then?

>> Any glass? Oh,

>> no.

I uh

I resigned.

>> You didn't.

>> I couldn't just sit there, could I?

Well, what are you going to do to live

on? There's else. Have you got any money

at all, Mr. Honey?

>> Well, I don't know how much.

>> Where's your book?

>> Book? Well, it's right there.

>> Do you know how much money you have to

live on? £3 and6. Oh, wait.

You haven't put anything in the bank for

months. What do you do with your money?

>> I I think there's some over here in one

of these.

There. Here's here's some more.

>> March. Janet. Two. Three.

Seven months. You haven't put anything

into the bank for 7 months.

You have lots of money.

I shouldn't have worried, should I? You

don't need anyone.

>> Yes, you do.

>> What's the matter? You're not going to

cry. I can't go away and leave you go

back to work. It isn't safe. You've got

to have somebody looking after you. I'm

going to marry you and and live here

whether you have a job or not.

>> You're you're

>> Yes. And you'll probably do it, too.

>> You'd better go down and see him before

you sent this over, sir, John. She tried

to get hold of you at the meeting, but

they wouldn't put her through. She said

it was very urgent.

>> Well, thank you.

>> Where is Sir David Moon? I hope he

hasn't left. I can't wait for this. It's

from Nixon in Labrador. He says they

found the tail spar and it's a fatigue

fracture if ever he saw one.

>> Sir John, I've had the most incredible

piece of information.

>> You haven't heard mine.

>> They've just made the first test flight

on our plane at Gander after it was

repaired. It made a perfect landing on

the airport and the tail collapsed while

it was taxing to the hanger. I could

hardly believe it and I

>> to help you,

>> Mr. Honey. We've received two messages

from Labrador and Ganda which bear you

out completely.

>> Oh, well that's good. If you know I

can't see where I could have gone wrong

in this. I've worked it out through

three different channels.

>> Did you hear me?

Ah,

temperature. Temperature. That's it.

That's That's a variable factor, isn't

it? That plane in Gander had been flying

in the tropics. This test is in a heated

shed. It would have collapsed on

schedule if I'd lowered the temperature

40°.