Original subtitles

I'm a lady who lives out on a limb.

A limb can break under you, you know.

I lost something last night,

and I think maybe you found it.

I want to race.

Only if I can arrange the proper protection.

I'm not crazy about the idea of killing her.

Either you take her down, or she takes us down.

Roan?

Cole! What are you doing here?

I was picking up a few things before I headed up to Reno.

What were you doing in the old man's office?

You know, he left this afternoon.

I know. I left him a note.

I wanted to visit some friends up in Lake Tahoe.

You could've told him in Reno tomorrow.

Oh, I will. I just wanted to make it official. You know, put it in writing.

Are you going out?

- Yeah. - Okay.

- Hi. - Good evening.

You got that plane ready to race tomorrow?

Always. How about the Sea Fury?

I just had it overhauled.

I got a place special on my mantle

where I gotta set that big, huge trophy

that's gonna say: "Reno Air Races, 1st Place."

Is that so? Afraid I might have something to say about that.

Yeah, I know.

But since we drew different heats,

so maybe I'll see you in the finals.

I'll be there if you are.

Good luck.

Yeah, this is Security.

We better contact Mr. Stappleford.

We got a problem.

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen,

and welcome to the 22nd Annual Reno Air Races.

This is going to be the biggest and the best event ever.

We have 32 heats of racing in 4 classes:

Formula, AT-6, Sports Biplane and Unlimited.

We have dozens of exhibits featuring aircraft from every era of flying.

You'll be entertained by the world-famous Blue Angels,

the Army's Golden Knights Parachute Team,

the extraordinary Christen Eagles Acrobatic Flight Team,

and from Canada, the Snowbirds.

You can see the planes gathering at the far end of the field.

Once again this year,

we have the most competitive group of planes in our history,

so the racing should be spectacular.

They're moving for the taxiways.

We'll be ready to start soon.

Some of the competitors are already airborne.

There goes Jacobs in the #84 silver Mustang.

And that's Harris in his P-51, which he calls the Phantom.

Would you look at that?

You know, this show keeps getting bigger every year.

Don't you just love those old airplanes?

You know, it is kind of fun to just

to do some real old-time cruising in a low-tech plane.

Hey remember, I'm boot’n her back.

I'm gonna show you the old Santini snap roll.

Yeah, I remember the last time you did that, you lost your spaghetti.

Oh, I'll give you a shot.

Hey, look at that! Wow!

Hey, hey! Isn't this great?

Just like the county fair.

I don't know. Looks a little crowded to me.

Oh, come on, you know you love racing.

Come on, the heats are ready to start up. Let's go.

All the planes are airborne now.

Once they're warmed up, they'll move into starting position.

They're lining up now, Keep your eye on the starter at the south pylon.

And they're off!

It's a good start.

Jumping into the early lead is Clemens in a P-38,

then Rogers in an AT-6,

Jacobs in a Mustang, Harper in a Sea Fury

and Carver in a Mustang.

That's Carver moving to 3rd, now challenging Harper's Sea Fury.

But Clemens still leads in his P-38.

Now Carver's slipped into 2nd.

That P-51 is really moving today.

Jacobs has got his silver Mustang right down to the deck,

taking the low line around.

Final lap, ladies and gentlemen.

The checkered flag is waving!

It's Clemens and Carver! Clemens and Carver!

Yes! Carver! Down under and home quick.

It's Roan Carver in the P-51 Mustang to win the first heat.

Did you see that move?

Yeah. It's called skill.

No kid’n.

Come on, let's go check out that Stappleford plane, eh?

I'm sure you'd all like to meet the man

whose company designed and built the X-400.

The President of Stappleford Industries, Lou Stappleford.

For those of you who have not yet heard,

the X-400 has just been certified

as a low-level surveillance and support aircraft.

The Air Force has asked us to start building 200 of them.

This craft represents the highest level

of aeronautical conception and design.

It is built entirely of Prylon,

a composite that enables it not only to be bulletproof,

but to have extreme stealth capabilities

against any modern radar systems.

Mr. Charles Crane here, our Chief Engineer,

will answer any of your non-classified questions as best he can.

As for myself, I can only say

that as the owner of Stappleford Aircraft,

I am filled with pride that our dream, this fantastic flying machine,

will now become a regular part of our national defense.

Thank you.

Hey, there's somebody's hand over here I gotta shake.

I'm sure we're all proud

to have your new plane as part of America's defense.

I'd now like to introduce you to the individual

who led the design team for the X-400.

Hello.

Are you the one who was flying this baby?

That's right, Mr…

Oh, I'm Stringfellow Hawke.

That's a mouthful.

This is Dominic Santini.

Hi! That was some kind of fly’n…

Roan Carver.

Thanks.

This Mustang, do you own it?

Me and the bank.

Well, I gotta go. Nice talk’n to you.

Miss Carver.

It is Miss?

Always.

I just wanted to congratulate you again.

I've gotta go check the race schedules.

Maybe I'll see you later.

That was a hell of a line, String.

I used it myself back in 1941.

Are there any questions?

When will the production on the X-400 begin,

and what kind of skills are you looking for?

Well, we start in 3 weeks.

And we're looking for the usual aircraft skills.

It's a very broad-based workforce.

Anybody else?

Yeah, I'd like to know about your plans…

Hey, boss.

Roan, I lost something last night,

and I think maybe you found it.

Lou, I really can't talk now. I've got a lunch date.

Come on, cheer up, will you?

The lady said she may see us later.

What are you talk’n about?

Listen, hey, don't play games with me. I'm not blind, you know.

That lady pilot really tumbled your gyros.

No big thing.

Listen to him.

Promise me something, will ya?

That if I tell you that the lady's com’n back,

you won't turn around so fast that you'll hurt yourself, will ya?

Is she?

Did you say you wanted to buy me lunch?

I didn't, but I will.

Stop begging. I'll go.

Something wrong with your legs?

Looks as if we're gonna be playing some games.

Get your cameras ready, ladies and gentlemen.

Here come the Blue Angels again!

How about that, folks?

Let's hear it for the Blue Angels.

So you run an air service?

What do you do?

Well, I work for a clandestine government agency.

I have a top-secret aircraft that I keep in a cave.

I live in a mountain cabin

and I have a dog that looks up girls' dresses.

Unemployed, huh?

What do you do?

I'm a lady who lives out on a limb.

Limbs.

A limb can break under you, you know.

And they have. Often.

Momentarily, I'm one of Stappleford Aircraft's test pilots.

So Stappleford Aircraft picks up the racing costs for your Mustang?

My Mustang and also a Sea Fury.

Well, if you're gonna have a sponsor, have a heavyweight.

You win very many races with that sweet old war bird?

A few.

Of course, I figure I win every time I pull those wheels up.

The lady's a gypsy.

It's true.

But it's a tough act to keep on the road these days.

Gets tougher every year.

Oh, the Mustang looks plenty quick enough to stay ahead of most of ‘em.

It is, and it does.

May we have your attention, please?

All race pilots still in the competition,

please report to the Officials' Tent.

That's me. Gotta go. Thanks for lunch.

Say,

you gonna be around later on?

Listen for the sound of breaking limbs.

You get a feel’n that lady is walk’n a narrow line?

You noticed that too, huh?

You know what I'm think’n?

What?

I'm think’n that you're think’n

that this place isn't so crowded anymore.

You know, now that you mention it,

it does look like it thinned out a little bit.

Roan, I think we better talk.

I was rather surprised to see you here today,

but I guess you figured

that I wouldn't notice the tapes were missing until after this weekend.

That was the general idea.

So when I came early to the air show, you grabbed the test data.

But you see, my people checked the company on Friday night.

So Roan, I'll take those tapes, please.

I can't, Lou.

Not until you agree to my terms.

You don't have the experience to know what happened.

You don't have the expertise.

Come off it, Lou! I'm a damn good test pilot, and you know it.

Yes, I know that.

I'm the one that gave you the chance to prove it, remember?

No one else would hire a lady jet jockey.

No, you're the only one in the business,

and I'm the one that got you there.

I know that, and I'm grateful. I've always been grateful.

Then why don't you show it? Oh, my God, Roan.

We have worked years to get where we are.

This contract is the entire future of Stappleford Aircraft.

And the jobs of 1,500 people

you're putting that in jeopardy, don't you see that?

Don't you think I know that?

I haven't thought about anything else for days.

Ask me to do anything else for you Lou, and I would.

But I can't do this.

And you can't either. You've got to do what's right and fix it.

Otherwise, I'll have to.

It's your move.

Now, ladies and gentlemen,

overhead is Lieutenant Commander Ellis of the Blue Angels.

How's that for low-level aerobatics?

Doesn't she understand? We'll all be ruined!

Of course she understands.

But all of a sudden she's on a crusade, Joan of Arc in a jumpsuit.

If we could just ship enough planes to break even,

then we could find this problem and report it.

Why don't I talk to her?

I can convince her the chance of in-flight failure

is virtually zero.

We've tried everything else.

Go get her, will you?

The planes for heat 2 of the Unlimited class

are ready to race. And they're off!

Jumping out are Lasky in an AT-G

and Cole in the Stappleford Sea Fury.

Lasky still leads, but Cole's got that Sea Fury wound up tight.

Look at Cole, right down to the deck as he goes to the lead!

Stappleford Aircraft looks tough to beat today.

Hey, lady.

Mr. Stappleford's getting a little impatient with you.

You okay?

That wasn't necessary.

Hey!

I can take care of myself.

Didn't look like that to me.

I'm not your concern.

Yeah? Well, don't take it so personal, lady.

I'd have done the same thing for anybody else.

I'm not just anybody!

Hey, how about it, lady? 3 darts for $1.

Try your luck, huh? How about you, mister?

Thank you.

All right.

You know, you may be one hell of a pilot,

but you're sure lacking in social graces.

I know that.

You do?

Yes, I do. I'm sorry, so forgive me, okay?

It's Cole the winner in the Stappleford Sea Fury.

You know, you didn't finish your lunch today.

Maybe you'd like to have an early dinner, huh?

One condition.

What's that?

No questions about those 2 guys back there.

What guys?

You mak’n any progress with our problem?

She's always been stubborn. We just can't reason with her.

Listen, I'm the official test pilot of record.

If she compromises me, it could cost me dearly.

It could cost us all.

I win again.

Now, wait a minute.

Now who wins, huh?

I think you switched monkeys on me.

Hawke, will you answer one question for me, honestly?

Sure.

Who are you, really?

Well, I told you.

I know. You fly some secret weapon that you keep in a cave

and you work for some secret agency

and you live with a dog on a mountain.

Level with me.

I told you. What I said was all the truth.

You almost make me believe that.

Well, believe it.

Why did you lie to me before?

I haven't lied.

Everything I said was the truth.

But you made it sound like a lie.

Well, yeah.

I can't really talk about it.

What about you?

What did you do before you went to work for Stappleford?

I don't like to talk about what's behind me.

I don't either, unless there's a good reason.

Is there?

What do you think?

Well, I grew up next to a small airport in the Midwest,

hung around and got my first plane ride at 8.

From then on, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life.

I always hated feeling closed in,

and up there I felt so free.

So right.

Let me guess.

You soloed at 16.

14

Then worked my way up from there.

Multi-engines, jets.

I was working for an executive jet charter when I met Mr. Stappleford.

He liked the way I handled a little emergency we had,

so I asked for a test pilot tryout.

And the rest was aviation history?

Are you planning on leaving Mr. Stappleford?

Could be. I'm beginning to feel a little crowded there.

I guess he wouldn't be very happy about that, huh?

How do you figure that?

Well, those 2 guys who were hassling you,

they had Stappleford's logo.

What 2 guys?

Yeah. Right.

Well, Mr. Stringfellow Hawke,

I can see you didn't learn all your moves in the cockpit.

You keep talking like that,

then you're gonna be a 4-point rollover.

There you go get’n gushy on me.

Gushy?

6 is my lucky number.

Let's just hope it's mine.

One hell of a housekeeper.

Where is it?

Your friends from Stappleford do this?

Probably.

Why?

They were looking for these.

What are they?

The cockpit computer tapes from the test flight of Stappleford's X-400.

Why do you have them?

I lifted them from Stappleford's flight center night before last.

You lifted them?

Or you stole them?

Depends on how you look at it.

Cole was the test pilot of record, but I flew the X-400 first.

So what do they mean?

They mean that the Air Force is about to spend a billion dollars

on 200 copies of the X-400

and any or all of them could suffer an in-flight failure.

That's pretty scary.

I really can't believe this.

One thing's for sure.

I'm not leaving you here tonight.

Stay with me.

The forceful type, huh?

Well?

Haver and Morgan tore her room apart. They came up empty.

I'm not surprised.

What did they expect?

She's too smart to leave that flight data just lying around.

They wrote a threat on her mirror.

Figured it would scare her.

They are idiots.

This woman power-dives experimental aircraft

at over 1,500 miles an hour.

It's going to take a lot more than that to frighten her.

A lot more.

So what do you suggest?

I suggest we all get ready for a very hard fall.

No way.

Look, Lou Stappleford is not gonna let some hysterical female

bring his whole operation down.

He can play hardball if he has to.

Yeah, maybe so, but it looks to me like he's running outta options.

He can't scare her off. He can't buy her off.

So what's he gonna do, Cole? Huh?

This morning, Dom and I are gonna take you to meet General Hillman.

He'll put you together with all the right Pentagon people.

I'm racing in the finals today.

Well, that doesn't seem just all that important right now, does it?

Well, it is to me. I've got a payment due on the Mustang.

Stappleford threatened you last night.

I think it's about time you vacated the area.

Lou wouldn't hurt me,

not while I've got the X-400 test flight data.

Besides, last night was his last hurrah.

You don't really believe that, do you?

Sure, I do.

Listen Hawke, Lou Stappleford is a businessman.

He's not a thug, not a spy.

Sure, he'll threaten me and have his men trash my room,

but when it comes right down to it, he's not gonna hurt me.

Listen to me. You can't be sure of that.

That guy's got a billion reasons

why he'd want you out of the way.

I'm not gonna stand by Roan, and watch you get hurt.

Suddenly it gets personal?

Yeah, suddenly it does.

I told you, I don't like being crowded.

You know, you can't always be alone.

And if you try it, you're gonna crowd yourself right into a corner.

I know.

I know because I tried it.

I wanna race.

I need to.

Please?

Then I'll act like a big girl, okay?

Only if I can arrange the proper protection.

I don't know all the details yet, Michael,

but she says that the X-400 is seriously flawed and I believe her.

A billion dollars' worth of substandard aircraft?

The newspapers could have a field day with that one.

I know you think Miss Carver's credible,

but can she supply any documentation, proof?

She's got the cockpit computer tapes from her test flights.

Excellent. I'll call the Pentagon.

Make sure you have access to General Hillman as soon as possible.

Yeah, listen, we should be there this afternoon.

Fine. Anything else you need?

No, I think that's it. Thanks, Michael.

You're welcome.

Take good care of Miss Carver and those tapes.

Right. I'll see you.

If it's got any design flaws, you can't tell by looking.

When operating at max speed and firepower,

there's a tendency to set up structural shock wave harmonics.

The vibration is deadly and it can cause aileron reversal.

Even commercial jets experience momentary aileron reversal.

Yeah, but this isn't momentary.

And it's self-accelerating, severe,

and it can happen at any altitude.

Look, I've got a pilots' meeting.

Be sharp.

You know String, you gotta remember, she's not an Engineer,

and the X-400 did pass the Air Force Flight Certification Test.

Yeah, but she pushed it beyond the Air Force requirements.

Oh, we all know that every aircraft has its limitations.

Yeah, she knows that.

Every airplane has its margin for error

between its legal limitation and its actual fail point.

She's just saying that the margin is too narrow.

Oh, you're talking about a very gray area, String.

Well, if she's wrong, why is Stappleford so worried about it?

You got a point.

Yeah, I'm gonna stay with her until this race is over, but

maybe…

You mean, bring the Lady here?

I'm with you.

I'm on my way.

Keep out of trouble.

I want you to arrange, for her, an accident in the finals.

A fatal accident.

Listen, a man could get hurt trying something like that.

Oh, I'm aware of the risks.

No, I don't think you are.

Now, I'm not too fond of the girl,

but I'm not crazy about the idea of kill’n her,

especially in front of a crowd.

Make it look like an accident. They happen all the time at air races.

Yeah. Yeah, they do, but I'm not gonna be one of the victims.

You are one of the victims. Don't you see that? We all are.

Now look,

either you take her down or she takes us down.

And I'm not just talking financial here.

The Air Force could file criminal charges.

You did remind me you are the pilot of record.

Are you saying that we could do prison time?

That's exactly what I'm saying.

We're getting carried away fellas, okay? We're overreacting.

I don't believe the X-400 is going to fail.

And I ought to know, I designed it.

But you didn't fly it. No, she did.

As long as she is alive,

if the Air Force finds any fault whatsoever,

we are exposed.

She could turn a minor doubt into a major catastrophe.

What you're saying is, I don't really have much choice.

None of us has a choice.

Now a special treat, folks.

The incredible Eagles Acrobatic Flight Team in their Christen Eagles.

I'm gonna win. Why aren't you smiling?

I'll smile when you get out of this thing.

As soon as I win this,

the 3 of us are leaving with you.

Before you pick up your trophy?

Hey, winning it is my trophy.

Now the moment we've all been waiting for,

the Unlimited class finals.

The planes are getting airborne, so be ready for action.

They're lined up for the start,

and they're off!

Early going, it's Kruger in his AT-G,

followed closely by Carver in her blue Mustang.

Then it's Cole in the Stappleford Sea Fury.

Now Cole is closing in on Carver,

coming up on her outside.

Look at those 2 as they battle!

That's what I call racing!

Now Cole's trying the inside.

Cole and Carver. They're wing-to-wing.

Cole and Carver slap wings,

and Carver's got trouble.

Looks like a broken line.

Incredible, folks! Carver's Mustang is smoke’n and lose’n oil,

but she's try’n to hang in the race.

Looks like Carver's plane is faltering.

And she's leave’n the course and give’n up the race.

Don't worry viewers, she's a real pro.

She'll get that plane on the ground somehow.

Roan, this is Hawke, do you read?

Roan, do you read?

I read. Where are you?

On your right.

I can't see.

I know, there's an oil leak.

Cole's blown it. If Roan gets down alive, she'll spill her guts.

I'm go’n after her.

Lou, for the love of God,

covering a killing with an accident was bad enough.

Using the X-400, that's insanity.

Charlie, we've made our move. We are committed.

I'm not gonna let her ruin us.

Now, come on, help me get this thing cranked up.

Roan, you got mountains ahead.

I still can't see. I'm losing altitude.

Raise the nose more.

I'm trying, Hawke. It's not working.

Roan, just keep it in the air. You can do it.

I'm trying, Hawke.

You're clear, Roan.

Listen, Roan, we gotta get you on the ground.

There's a mesa ahead. That’ll be your best shot.

Lower the nose.

Full flaps.

Start easing off the power now.

It's okay. I want you as slow as possible.

You're about 40 feet.

30 feet.

Lift your left wing.

I'll tell you when to chop and flare.

Chop it.

We gotta get out of here.

No! I'm not gonna let this plane burn!

Go on without me.

You're crazy!

He's making another pass.

The hell he is.

We gotta decoy him. Is he following us?

Following? He's running over us!

Friend, you picked the wrong plane to mess with.

Combat mode, Dom.

Combat mode.

Reach full turbo.

Full turbo.

Missile fired. Dropping sunburst.

I need more, Dom.

Forget it. We're 30% past maneuvering speed now.

He's still all over us.

Let's run him through the maze.

Dom, around the next turn, I want full reverse turbo.

String, you slam on the brakes,

I'm not sure she'll hold together.

She's gonna have to.

Now!

Nice shot, String!

Well, so much for the X-400.

Let's get back to Roan.

Sorry, Roan.

The fire got to the fuel tank.

I tried. I couldn't stop it.

I know.

I'm gonna do… I'm gonna do a quick ground check,

make sure she didn't sprain anything important.

When I was little, we had a pair of eagles that nested on our property.

And I'd watch them early in the morning,

and they'd soar together way up in the sky.

I always wished I could be up there with ‘em.

With her, I could.

Well, you know Roan, there's other eagles.

No, I think we only get one.

After that we call ‘em airplanes.

Hawke, Dom and I can take care of the Stappleford thing.

Then I think I'd like to hide out for a while.

Will you contact me?

Yeah, I'll just look for that mountain hideaway

that a super-spy and his dog might live in.

Hey, I was just kind of blow’n smoke about that spy stuff.

Yeah, just like you were about that classified helicopter you fly.