Original subtitles

Jawohl! -Yes!

Yes, the Postjager, they call it. -Does Pander make that thing?

Pander, the furniture maker? -It will fly the Christmas mail to Batavia.

What? Without the KLM? I have a sofa from Pander.

It's faster than your Fokkers. And if they succeed...

Fast mail flights, I like the idea. And mail doesn't need to sleep.

But the crew does. -Than we'll change crews halfway.

I work for the PTT, Albert. Getting the mail to Batavia faster is a plus for me.

We can't do without the mail.

We need your money for the European network, for new planes.

Not my problem, Albert.

What they can do, we can do too.

Divide the Christmas mail between the Postjager and our Fokker.

Who gets there fastest gets the new PTT contract.

Dutch Aircraft Factory Fokker

So that commander says he first wants to see...

if that machine gun also works in the sky.

And if I could prove it by shooting down a Frenchman.

So off to the front. I flew for five days on end. Not one Allied plane in sight.

And below me the battlegrounds.

Trenches. Sometimes I got shot at. -Madness.

And then, one day, some 800 m away from me...

I see a two-seater Farman, emerging from the clouds.

So I head in his direction. He saw me, but he wasn't afraid.

There was a propeller in between us, so I couldn't shoot anyway, he thought.

I go even closer, my finger at the trigger.

If the bullets wouldn't kill him, at least his fuel tank would explode.

I could have done it, but I don't hate the French.

Let the Germans fight their own war, I figured.

So I landed and told that commander to find someone else.

On the third flight they hit target. That synchronizer worked.

And you made a fortune with it. -Oh...

I'm sure you didn't invite me to tell me that story.

No, I really enjoy reading your articles.

You know a lot about aviation and you write well.

I want you to write my autobiography.

I have a contract with a publisher, but I have no experience with writing.

You're serious? You want me... -Yes, what do you say?

Yes, of course. I'm honoured.

To me you are one of the greatest Dutchmen of all time.

Good. For a title I personally thought... -'The Flying Dutchman.'

There, that's exactly why you are my man.

How do we proceed? I talk, you write?

Good. Come.

You drew this by hand? -Yes, how else?

But you can't just... -Everything under control, gentlemen?

Yes. -Co van Tijen, my assistant manager.

And my dear friend Reinhold Platz, the country's finest aircraft builder.

Anthony, can I... -No, talk to Platz.

We're going to write a book.

Let me first tell you how I made the Spin.

Don't you need a ruler for that?

It is pretty. -You are pretty.

That thing is a nightmare. Boys, turn down the volume.

Germany is leaving the League of Nations. -They're sidestepping Versailles.

That awful screaming of that man. -I was listening.

It's my radio. -That's why I want to live on my own.

Here we go again. -You can move out when you're 21 .

That's still a year away. -Until then you have food and board.

Why don't you get a job?

Then you can buy your own radio. -Not that easy during a crisis, Dad.

I can't help you either. The office is fully staffed.

As if I'd want to work there. As the boss's son.

Oh, my mother made that. Everything alright here?

There's a hotel around the corner, I don't mind...

I can't foretell when I'll remember something. You'd better stay here.

So we went over land, by train. Me in second class, Tony in first, of course.

When I got off in Berlin, Tony was nowhere to be seen.

Turns out he'd gotten off after seeing a pretty girl on a platform somewhere.

Remember what you said? 'You can reschedule a meeting...'

'But you shouldn't pass up on a woman.'

Don't write that down. -Why not?

Platz, tell him about our big smuggle. -Oh, that was something.

It was at the end of the war. We had 200 planes ready in Schwerin.

No idea how to get rid of them. So what did we do?

By train...

You're going to be late. -Come on, get up.

What's the matter? -You're coming with me today, lazybones.

Good morning. -Good morning, Mr Plesman.

Neel? Jan is coming to help us for a while.

Do you have a task for him? -I'll think of something.

Parmentier is in your office.

Do you know how to type? -No.

Okay.

And I served in the military, just like you.

So I should hire you because you resemble me?

You see, I already work here. -I've always really admired you.

Then why did you work for Fokker? -I don't know.

What do you know about the F-20? Am I buying a pig in a poke again?

It was built after my time.

He doesn't innovate. That's why he failed in America.

Well, the name Fokker is... -Now I'll have to deal with him again.

But with you I can exert some pressure.

Pressure? -Yes, you know people there.

You can inquire whether I am being hustled, right?

No, I'm not an informer. -You'll have no choice if you work for me.

Sit back down. I'm only testing you.

You can start today. -I have the job?

Yes, but before you start flying, I have another job for you.

You're going to America. -America? Why?

Those guys are running night flights. I want to know how they do it.

Here is a list of manufacturers to visit. You need a visa and health certificate.

I'm going to America? -Do you have anything better to do?

No.

Thank you. -No problem, kid. Now get out of here.

The best pilot of his year. Shall we?

Will you type out these minutes?

Yes, that's how it went.

I was wondering, since you came to the Netherlands with your first wife...

what role did she play in that smuggle? -She came later.

Oh, but I thought... -She doesn't have to be in the book.

The Dutch government issued sharp criticism of Adolf Hitler...

Have you heard about Hitler? -Could you turn off the radio?

...to keep other countries from seceding from the League of Nations...

and economic sanctions should be considered, according...

I won't be surprised if Germany wants new planes.

No passenger planes, but fighter aircraft. Just like before.

Why don't you want your first wife in the book?

She can write her own book.

But isn't she... -This book is about me.

Not about side issues. -But you didn't do it alone, did you?

I never needed anyone.

Shall we go to the movies? 'Hell's Angels' is playing, from Howard Hughes. Seen it?

I'm working.

That movie features seven Fokkers. Did you know that?

Do you have to type so loudly? -I'll go work in my room.

It is a beauty, though. -Yes, gorgeous.

I prefer an ugly plane that flies well. -It's a good machine, Ples.

I heard that before. -Isn't that Fokker?

Anthony.

Albert.

What's your name and what do you do? -Bart Polak.

I help Mr Fokker with his book. -'The Flying Dutchman'.

And that's you? I'll say. -I'd like to interview you.

About him? Does it have to be a positive book?

Mr Fokker is very positive about you. -I don't think...

'Much of what the KLM has achieved is due to the progressiveness of Albert Plesman...

and to the determination with which he pursues his forward-looking ideas.'

Do you still have those goggles? -Yes, sir.

How do you like it, the Zilvermeeuw?

Yes, very nice.

A round hull. As aerodynamic as can be.

Pander is building the engines in the wings.

This is the fastest Fokker ever, 250 km/h. -Pander is cruising at 300.

Yes, without passengers and no room for the pilot's sandwich.

What's going on here? You want passenger planes, don't you?

How are you doing? -You tell me. Are you ordering more?

Having a book written about your life? -Good advertising.

You don't need a book, you need new ideas.

I need new orders. Due to the crisis my export is drying up.

In America they're all switching to metal. -I don't care about America, I'm here now.

You are ordering more, aren't you? -Anthony?

I just paid you 60,000 for this one. -And I've got 80,000 invested in it.

Why don't you replace your Batavia fleet with these?

If the Pander is faster, we won't fly to Batavia at all anymore.

Thanks for what you said about me in your book.

I regret it already.

Shouldn't you start exercising?

I know that in America you had some...setbacks.

I know what it's like.

I was 13 when my mother died. For me it was...

It can take years to get over such things. -If you want planes, you know where to find me.

Oh, I'm sorry. -Yes, of course.

Just a bit of friendly back-and-forth. I want this, he wants that.

I have to hang up. -We always find a compromise.

And? How many will they buy?

Plesman is holding off till the new calendar year.

How am I going to pay the work force?

Come, Polak.

And I never wore shoes. Put that in there as well.

No one at the kampong did.

He's hopelessly behind the times. The Americans have wind tunnels.

They have aerodynamic scientists. -Do you know how much that costs?

Plesman realizes we're being overtaken. -You should just focus on getting orders.

If you were at the factory more often... -I'm busy.

Busy, with that book? If this goes on we can close the entire factory.

Next time call before you come, Co.

I'm not paying you to eavesdrop on me, Polak.

Come, let's go.

Come.

And he made that canoe himself.

Isn't that something? -Yes.

Here he's playing with his train set.

From Cairo to Baghdad is 1 305 km. So with cargo...

Arrival at 1 5.30. -No.

Think in time zones. In Iraq it's an hour later.

And you left out the weight of the fuel again.

Goddammit. -Come on.

This is worse than school. -The flight plan is important.

All I do here is make calculations. -Listen to me.

These people have a job because of the money we get from the PTT.

If we lose the mail, they will all have to go to the soup kitchens.

Neeltje?

Plus this hour. -That gets added, plus the weight...

Where are you going? -We'll be back in an hour.

Was it good? -Very good.

Otherwise he'd say so, right? -That part about the canoe...

Did I... -Is this your second wife?

Where did you get that? -I... Violet sent them to me.

We talked over the phone sometimes.

Give me that, right now. That's private. -Yes, that's why people buy biographies.

No, they will buy them because my name is on the cover.

You can write a bit about Violet. I think that would be nice.

It will show that you have your grief too. -You never even met her.

And what do you care? Your name won't be on the cover.

I have my pride too. -Pride?

In what? In that you know how to type? Plenty of people do.

Oh, Tonnie, please. Tonnie.

You want to get to know me better? Come with me.

Come on.

Stop.

Thank you. -Documents.

We're not staying long, are we?

'Polak'. I don't feel very welcome here.

All clear, you can go.

Thank you.

So I said: 'Not a step further.' But those soldiers...

all drunk, of course, came from that direction.

One of them attacked me. I managed to fend him off.

And then over here I jumped on my motorbike.

And took off. Have you got that? Yes, that was here.

Van Richthofen. Only flew in his red Fokker.

Eighty victories. He was a hero in Germany.

He said to me: 'You...

you are the hero.'

Because of me he stayed aloft.

Because of me.

Me.

Look. -Thank you.

For who is all that?

They help the poor, the unemployed. They already have over 1 ,000 members.

And who pays for it all? -Contributions.

Maybe I'll join as well.

I can do a lot more than take minutes and answer the phone.

You should. -They organize special evenings.

Why don't you come along to one? They want exactly what Albert wants too.

That we can be proud of our country again.

Do you call him Albert?

KLM, Jan Plesman. When?

Dad. -Not now, Jan.

Will that front hold, you think?

Dad, you want to hear this. -Just wait, Jan.

Do they have night lighting there? -Just some torches.

This is important. -So no night landing.

Sorry, I thought you'd want to know that the Pander took off this morning.

What?

I'm going to Schiphol. Call Smirnoff. We have to take to the sky right away.

Jan, come with me. Neel, call Damme at the PTT.

Let him hurry to Schiphol or I will shove that goddam Christmas mail up his ass.

The Pander was ready earlier than planned. -That's cheating.

What matters is the flight time, not who gets there first.

What will the papers say if we get there last?

Margot, I'm sorry. But you'll have him back before New Year's Eve.

I know how important it is. -With Iwan we stand a good chance.

It's the centre engine. The entire driving unit has collapsed.

Can you fix it? -It will take at least a day.

What plane is fit to go? -The Pelikaan.

Will it get you there? -The Pelikaan is a lot slower.

We'll have to keep flying day and night, but I will try.

Piet, we're taking the Pelikaan. Let them transfer the mail.

Is that a good idea?

I'm open to better ones, Frits. -Maybe we should consider mail flights too.

We transport mail and passengers.

How often do we have to go over this? -Until we start making a profit.

Piet.

At least the flight plan is good to go.

The Pelikaan is 60 km/h slower than the Zilvermeeuw.

You can throw that flight plan in the bin.

Then how will they know where to land? -Always the same bullshit.

If Fokker was here, I'd have punched his face.

Margot. What's the matter? -My stomach.

All of a sudden? -No, for a while already.

But if I'd told Iwan, he'd never have left.

Is there a doctor here?

Yes, and now? I see.

Alright, Suus. Yes, you stay with Margot. We'll just have sandwiches or something.

Yes, okay, bye.

An ulcer. She ignored it for too long and now she has a perforated bowel.

She must have surgery. -God, if Smirnoff hears...

Should he hear?

There's nothing he can do anyway. And it may upset him so much that he'll crash.

His wife is in the hospital. -She deliberately kept it a secret.

Would you want to know if it was Mom?

I need fresh air. Shall we take a break?

Where are you two going all the time?

Albert, maybe you should take Jan along today.

Down here will be a transit office, where people can buy tickets.

And up here will be our office.

Practically opposite the parliament.

Do many people know about this?

Me, Neeltje, Van Vlissingen and you.

We haven't signed yet. -Should we lose the mail...

We belong here.

I want the ministers to walk by every day.

Easier to get funding. -We connect the world.

They could take some pride in that.

As much pride as you take in it? -No, nobody can possible do that.

Maybe I can.

Shall I ask Smirnoff if he wants to give you some flying lessons?

Really?

Would be nice if at least one Plesman were a decent pilot.

Mrs Fokker?

It's been ages since that was my name.

My name is Polak. I'm writing a book about your ex-husband.

I see.

What did he say about me? -Not a word.

That's why I want to give you the chance to tell your own story.

If Tony said nothing about me, I have nothing to say about him either.

This book is how people are going to remember Fokker.

If you don't appear in it, it will be as if you were never there.

Is that what you want?

Emergency landing. -Oh God.

Not the Pelikaan, the Postjager.

Is everyone okay? -Yes, but they can't take off again.

And the Christmas mail they're carrying? -That's stranded there.

We have to pick it up.

If the Pelikaan gets all that mail to Batavia on time...

Piet, where is that crate? -Here, in Grottaglie.

Call Damme. Tell him to have the mail transported to Brindisi.

I think I can get the British so far that they'll take it to...Cairo.

What do we have there? -The IJsvogel is nearby.

De IJsvogel will pick up the mail. Telegram to Baghdad.

When the Pelikaan lands there, they'll take the mail from the IJsvogel.

And Margot?

I can't tell him per telegram. -And when they're in Batavia?

We'll see. To work, come on, let's go.

They've made a stop in Saloniki. -Dammit.

They have to land in Athens too, or they won't make the crossing.

What if we skip Cairo?

Take that one.

The IJsvogel's already left Baghdad with mail.

But the Pelikaan should have it. -It got mixed up back in the hold.

They didn't have time to sort it. -Then in Bushehr.

No, because you didn't figure in the weight of their mail.

They had contact with Bushehr, but no time to transship the mail.

Maybe in Jask. -Jesus, we're racing against ourselves.

They have the mail. The Pelikaan has all the Christmas mail on board.

And on. It's 800 km to Allahabad. -And pitch dark.

Yes, I understand that, but where exactly are they?

They're near Calcutta. -Can they get some rest there?

No, they can't take any rest. -Poor men.

Terrific men.

The British will escort us to Sumatra. -Even the competition is getting excited.

So only Palembang, and then... -Batavia.

lf the Pelikaan keeps up this pace, it will be a record flight time.

And that in a slower machine. lt deserves to be called a miracle.

Do you hear that? That's some stunt.

'Tony wants what he can't have. Once he has it, he loses interest in it.

That also goes for his women.

Once we were married, he had no eyes for me anymore.

He was only busy trying to impress his father.'

She also wrote nice things.

What does she know? I haven't seen her in years.

You were married to her. -I don't want to discuss it.

You can't simply negate her. -Negate?

I pay her 200 guilders each month. Is that negating?

None of this comes in the book, got that? Do something like this again...

What else can I do? If you don't share anything personal...

I share everything with you. -Nothing real. Nothing that hurts.

So what do you want from me? -I want you to tell me about Violet.

An attack of vertigo, the papers said. But that's not true, is it?

She jumped. -You are fired.

Get out. I want you to leave my house. Go. Now, get out.

I'm not going.

Get out. -Why won't you talk about her?

Why do you think? -I understand that it hurts, but...

I killed her.

Yes, it's my fault.

She jumped.

It was her own choice. -She didn't have a choice.

My factory was being taken from me. That's all I thought about.

I didn't see it, I...

I didn't know it was that bad. I just went to sleep.

Just like that.

No, the size doesn't matter. As long as you give it enough lift.

Look, you have propulsion, lift, resistance.

They're in Batavia. -Smirnoff, what a hero!

He will be on the line shortly. Over Kootwijk. I'll put him through to you.

Smirnoff, are you there?

Hello, boss. -Terrific work.

The entire country followed you. You were on the radio all the time.

Everything went well. Great reception. A bit tired now.

So get some sleep and give my regards to the crew.

Yes, I will.

Iwan, I have something else to tell you.

Margot is in the hospital. She has an ulcer.

What? -She had to have surgery.

She's getting the best care. Do you hear me?

Smirnoff? -I'm coming back.

First get some rest. The return flight stays scheduled for Wednesday. You hear me?

Iwan.

What was the flight time? -100 hours and 40 minutes.

That's a world record, Ples.

Thousands of people are thronging to Schiphol, never mind the weather...

to give our boys from the Pelikaan a warm welcome.

The return flight is expected to be even faster...

Tough to land in that soup.

Do I hear something?

Quiet.

Yes.

Bring it safely home, Iwan.

He did it. That crazy Russian actually did it.

We'd better hurry, before they lift him on their shoulders.

Fantastic. -Yes...

Margot?

Are we going to the hospital. Is she... -Think we could keep her from coming?

Oh, Margot. -Not too long, you have to give a speech.

What the heck...

Even with old Fokkers you win records. -Nonsense.

We owe it to the crew. If that Zilvermeeuw had taken off...

One evening without drama. Please, sirs, congratulate each other on this success.

I think the next step is clear. We must think bigger.

Fine, I can set up a production line for more F-20s tomorrow.

Bigger planes, I mean. -He can't get them to fly as it is.

So what about my F-20? -Too small. It must fit at least 30 people.

You know how much I've invested in it? -Not enough, otherwise it would be flying.

He does have a point.

That machine must be made perfect before I can start on a bigger plane.

20,000 people cheering because we can fly to the East in four days.

I'm a merchant, I listen to the market. Mass market sells, and that's a mass.

Only a few days ago you wanted to switch to mail flights.

For years I've been hearing that I'm crazy with my civil aviation...

But you've been proven right. We need a bigger model for the East Indies Line.

Bigger is not always better. -No, no new Fokkers for now.

Do you have some other plan, Albert?

Investing for years on end, everything for this moment.

That's quite a big monster. -He just draws it all by hand.

That's not acceptable anymore.

It's too big. -What can we do? No one wants the F-20s.

That's exactly the mistake I made in America.

Bigger, bigger, bigger, and in the end nobody wanted it.

I can free up some money for an external engineer.

What do you think? -I say build it.

Okay, go ahead.

Nothing but aluminium. Cruises at 300 km/h at an altitude of 2,000 m.

Douglas invested a fortune in it. Twenty times more than Fokker in his F-20.

If we could fly with this plane...

Happy New year, everyone.

Make it a good year.

Happy New Year.

Can we go? Carbide shooting at de Vos.

Fine, but be careful. -Of course.

Put on your coat, it's cold. -Yeah-yeah.

Where are you with your thoughts? -Sorry, it's that Douglas.

Is it really that much better? -I look at that thing and I see the future.

Didn't you just order that new big Fokker? -Yes, and I didn't even want to, goddammit.

One of those planes would be enough. -One?

To prove that it's better.

But then you need the board's permission. -Yes.

Van Vlissingen also consorts with Fokker, so...

What if you let Fokker profit from it? -He'll never fall for that.

He will if you play it smart. Pretend you don't really want it either.

Think I'm afraid of you? -Come here, then.

You bastard, come on.

Come on, then. -Get him off him.

Gentlemen, stop.

Calm down.

He's sabotaging me. -You're sabotaging yourself, you lunatic.

He hires people to undermine me.

Is that true? -Here, I had his drawings checked.

If you build it like that, it will never get off the ground. Way too heavy.

That's total nonsense.

Airworthiness certificate

This... It looks like... -Tony, it's either me or him.

Come with me. Come, let's cool off a little.

Not right now.

We were buildings planes when he was still in diapers.

I don't want him here for the next plane. Promise me that.

There won't be a next plane.

If he hadn't noticed that mistake... -You choose his side?

We can't build like we used to anymore. Experiment, fly, then make adjustments.

The machines have become too big.

What are you saying?

You're firing me?

How am I going to tell this at home?

My wife, my daughter...

That's more than twenty years.

I thought we were friends. -You are my best friend.

Tough day?

You come to make it tougher?

I come to invite you over for dinner.

Wait.

Welcome, Mr Fokker. -Just call me Tony.

...cold so it stiffens up, and you have a dessert fit for a French restaurant.

I also want to become a pilot. -Really? What does your father think?

Greatest job in the world.

You know what I always loved the most?

Going up at sunset, and when you climb to 2,500 metres...

you sit in the sun, while the world below you is covered in darkness.

Yes, and then turn the engine off for a second.

With only the sound of the wind.

But now, with those closed cockpits... -Mr Fokker?

What allows an airplane to fly?

Look, suppose this is the wing...

and this the wind.

If you only go fast enough, the wind will push the wing upwards.

And then you get lift.

Isn't it because of the wind above the wing?

Due to the negative pressure?

Anthony, what would you say if I were to order a Douglas?

To meet the demand on the East Indies Line. Just till your new machine is ready.

Would you be willing to help me do so?

Help you? Help you how?

Well, I don't have any experience with Americans, of course, and you are one.

I will pay you handsomely for it.

You'll make money on a plane from a competitor.

What do you want one Douglas for? -A stopgap solution.

To show that I'm trying to be flexible.

You have no idea what has gotten into Frits since that story with the Pelikaan.

If I can show that we can work together...

Fine. -Great.

Ples. -Anthony.

Suze, thanks for the wonderful dinner. -You're always welcome.

Bye. -Bye, Mr Fokker.

Jesus, he actually fell for it.

He fell for what? -He's hauling in his own Trojan horse.

Once they see how good that Douglas is, they'll never want a Fokker again.

Is that why you invited him? To screw him over?

Do you have it with you?

A first draft.

But you're going to America? -That part about Violet?

Here.

Yes, this is who she was.

What are you doing? -I won't share Violet with anyone.

But...

And what about our book? -I'll hire another writer in America.

Like who?

Who wouldn't want to write about the greatest Dutchman of all time?