Original subtitles

Dad, there are so many beautiful airplanes here.

Have you seen the Comets yet? -No.

They're flying with the Black Magic.

A lot of amateurs. Many of these planes won't even make the end of the runway.

Forget those other planes.

Passengers? -The bankers are here already.

That hag is coming tomorrow morning. -If that 'hag' writes a negative piece...

Albert, join me.

What are you doing here? -You think I'm crazy?

As if you'd stop at just one Douglas.

Well, win that race for me, Ples.

The pilot of the Fairey Fox told me his only fear is to crash in the Timor Sea.

Doesn't he know how to swim? -He does, but he's afraid of sharks, so...

Are you listening? -Oh yes.

I have his autograph. -Look at him.

It's not even his own plane. -Ignore him.

There isn't one Fokker in the race. And why not?

Because they'd never make it, of course. And he keeps bragging.

Continue, Jan. -The Comets are the finest planes.

How the hell did that bastard manage to persuade Douglas?

I'll just ask him. -One is the 'Black Magic'

Boss, the pilots of the Fairey Fox, Gilman and Baines.

Jesus Christ.

Can I have a word with you?

Why didn't I know about that deal? -As if you tell me everything.

You signed up the Uiver, without consulting me first.

Consulting you? Your name isn't on it. -Frits is angry too. Did you know that?

Night flights across three continents? Too big a risk.

The Uiver can handle it. Why else did you buy those rights?

If you'd just kept buying my planes... -I'd rather buy paper airplanes.

Ples, if the Uiver crashes... -It won't crash.

If it crashes, no one will want a Douglas anymore.

My rights will be worthless. Then I won't have anything left.

It won't crash. -So we want the same thing...

Parmentier. -Sorry.

If we lose because we left too late... -Because we're overloaded, more likely.

Behave, will you?

Ms Rasche, good to see you. I read the 'Flugillustrierte' every week.

It appears monthly, Mr Plesman.

You asked me to write an honest report of this journey, and that's what I'll do.

Don't forget that I used to be a pilot. I know what I'm talking about.

Does your father know? -No.

Let's keep it that way, he has enough on his mind.

Got it? -Yes.

Right.

Well, have a good flight.

May you arrive in Australia fast and safely. -Thank you.

Is Fokker still coming? We wanted a photo with him.

I'll gladly pose with you, gentlemen.

Good luck with everything. -Don't worry, boss.

Dad.

Who is that? -That's Donald Douglas, that dipshit.

That fool sold the rights to Fokker. I could strangle him.

You could. Or you restrain yourself and keep Fokker...

from getting the rights to his next machine as well.

Dad, this is...

Bon voyage.

Everyone ready? Don't worry, this is the safest airplane you could wish for.

For Queen Wilhelmina. -And for Plesman.

Now let's go home.

My only worry are the night landings. If the radio should fail...

Mr Plesman, any news? -Please, we just got back from London.

No, it's okay. They took off without a hitch.

The first stop is Marseille, but they must have left that behind already.

I'll let you know if there's news.

Don't be so testy, Jan, publicity is everything.

Yeah-yeah, that will do, you good-for-nothings.

Applaud when it's over.

They skipped Marseille.

20 penalty minutes, but they'll be in Rome 40 minutes faster.

A gain of 20 minutes, good. -They're just behind Mollison's Comet.

Albert, Van Vlissingen is waiting in your office.

You've turned the eyes of the world on us.

MONSTER RACE STARTED

All free advertising. -Until it goes wrong.

In the midst of an economic crisis you take such a risk.

We've never been this vulnerable.

Fokker has the European sales rights for the DC-2.

So he doesn't tell you everything either?

I keep my work for Fokker and KLM strictly separate.

I couldn't have told you anyway. -Then of what use are you to me?

Albert, the director works for the board, not the other way around.

And the board members for their own wallet.

Is that news to you? This is a company. -We could be so much more.

Please, spare me. Flying for peace and connecting the world. I know your slogans.

They're not slogans. -Ideals, then.

But they don't enter into this race. You're doing this because of Fokker.

For the landing rights in Australia.

Anthony doesn't need me to realise that you're doing this to get rid of him.

My only concern is success for the KLM.

Albert, you're the biggest threat to the KLM.

On your board you have the best businessmen of this country.

We only act rationally, never on the basis of emotion.

We analyse the chance of failure to two decimal points.

So we also know in advance if there must be a scapegoat.

Keep me posted.

Do I pay you to listen to the radio? Back to work.

You heard him, back to work, everyone.

If nobody wants this machine, we're screwed.

Have you spoken to Plesman yet? -He doesn't know what a good machine is.

I'm receiving cautious inquiries from Germany lately.

What, Lufthansa?

Military aircraft. They have the Luftwaffe now. They're not even keeping it secret.

It seems for G�ring it's only the beginning.

Hermann. -You know him?

No military aircraft. I have a name in civil aviation now and I want to keep it.

But we have to make money. -That's why the KLM must use Fokkers.

Plesman wants metal planes.

If Plesman wants shiny airplanes, he can have them.

I don't need metal for that.

How do you say that, 'old guard'?

Now I've got him. Get a notary on the phone.

What notary? -One who answers.

Can this wait, Ab? -Oh no.

Now I've got him. He won't get away with this.

Here you are. Enjoy. -Thank you.

Everything okay here?

Excuse me.

In two hours we'll land in Baghdad. If you wish, you can sleep some more.

Incredible. We left Europe this morning and now see something...

most people will never see in their lifetime.

Altitude? -Around 3,000 metres.

Around?

Exactly 3,000 metres.

Will you keep that hag away from the wheels? If she sees we're leaking oil...

We're leaking oil? -We'll be in Baghdad. Enough oil there.

I have the Czechs on the line. -The board will be here soon.

It won't take long.

I'm getting rid of the Fokkers. -Have you lost your mind?

No, Fokker has lost his mind. Drawn up by a notary.

What does it say? -It's a statement from Donald Douglas...

saying that Fokker doesn't have the exclusive rights for the DC-2.

But he tells everyone... -Yes, he tells everyone that.

Because he doesn't want us to buy American planes.

Frits, why do you think you didn't know about that deal?

Because it doesn't exist. -Reason for you to sell half the fleet?

Gentlemen, we have to switch to Douglas. Look out the window.

The whole nation believes in it. -We're not there yet.

He lied to us.

That must have consequences. If not, what kind of company are we?

Frits?

If the Uiver holds up.

How soon would Douglas be able to deliver?

Are you proud of your old man? -Don't cheer too soon.

Look, all because of him.

Is that from the NSB? -You should have joined the Youth Storm.

Really something for you. -Scary club, with their black uniforms.

25,000 members already. All they want is to be proud of their country.

Just like Albert wants. -You should know.

You see more of him than my mother. -I work with him.

Is that all you do with him?

Our boys are doing very well. They're en route to Karachi in southern British India.

I'm convinced that they're doing their utter best to make it a pleasant flight.

You're not writing this down, are you? -If the gyroscope fails, I write it down.

Something's always failing. Why not write about what's going well?

I'll write the truth about this flight. No nonsense only for your benefit.

You're just envious, because you can no longer fly yourself.

Exactly, and why is that? -It's not my fault.

Really? Isn't aviation a men's world? -Yes, but that's not...

What does that have to do with it?

She's a member of the party, did you know that?

As if that Hitler is such a good man.

He wants all women back to the kitchen. -He never said that.

Are you sure? -We need a strong leader.

Otherwise we'll be in debt for the next 50 years.

Hitler brings our country together. -Oh yeah, is that what he's doing?

Mind my words, in less than five years we'll have recovered.

Woman, you're crazy if you believe that. -May I quote you on that?

Champagne?

No?

That Hitler only has one testicle, did you know that?

Mom? What are you doing here? I'm working.

Yes, I can see that.

Why don't I hear you on the radio? Didn't you get them that machine?

I don't have time for that silly race. -Now it's only Plesman people hear.

Imagine what your father would have said. -He'd have wanted me to keep working too.

It's just an ordinary publicity stunt. -You didn't scorn those in your day.

This is different. If that thing crashes, my deal will become worthless.

Then I can close the factory.

Is it really going that badly?

Then why don't you build one yourself? Better than the Uiver.

You can do that, can't you?

I'm trying to understand how that machine works, but...

Aluminium construction, adjustable propellers...

hydraulic de-icers, streamline fairings, stressed skin...

There are so many new things. I just can't make sense of it all.

Mom, leave it. -You can't work in such a mess.

Shouldn't you have a housekeeper? Remember Jojo, the girl next door? She's...

Mom, now stop it. I want no one in my house.

At least turn the radio on.

the KLM aviary dispatches its giant birds

all of Holland has been uivering for weeks

the greengrocer weighs off a kilo of uiver sprouts

and says: Oh madam, I had the quivers worrying about that Uiver

The baker had a row with my kitchen maid

the buns in the morning smelled of fuel

he said, sorry miss, that is our Uiver pain-de-luxe

you taste the smell of Parmentier's machine

he pinched her round cheek and hummed an Uiver song

there comes an Uiver flying over the whole sky belongs to them

they are the Dutch boys from our glorious KLM

Mr Parmentier, welcome. My daughter has flowers for you.

...that has just been welcomed by the residents of Batavia. KLM...

Oh, so now you just break in?

I'm working, what do you want?

I'm fed up with everyone doing things behind my back.

What are you talking about? -That so-called deal with Douglas.

Are you happy now? Plesman is out for blood. He sold a bunch of Fokkers.

And I can't even blame him. -What do you mean, so-called deal?

Let go of me, you idiot. Do you know who I am?

Connection in a few minutes.

Put the signal through to the speakers, I want everyone to hear.

Plesman.

Do you really think you're smart enough to hoodwink me?

Me hoodwink you? You lied about the whole thing.

Oh yeah? Then what is this?

You just put this together, didn't you? You don't have any deal with Douglas.

In black and white. Signed by Donald Douglas himself.

Signed in January.

Those two are in cahoots. He's lying.

Look at those drowsy eyes. Not even 1 1 AM and already sloshed.

Or still. We signed those contracts in a speakeasy, with witnesses present.

I didn't know he was such a boozer. But I won't be cheated.

Say, I've heard you need new planes, now you don't want Fokkers anymore.

I'll happily to recommend the DC-2. A fine machine. A bit costly, perhaps.

Actually, the better the Uiver does, the more you're going to pay me.

Demand and supply. But you understand that.

I'd really like to hear an apology. -Of course. On behalf of the board...

No, apologies from Albert Plesman himself, of course.

Mr Plesman, there's contact with Tjililitan.

Parmentier? Plesman here. -Hello, boss.

The whole country is proud of you. As am I. How's it going?

No problems.

But there's a big storm brewing over Australia.

The British have taken the risk.

What do you think? -Flying a big metal box into a storm?

We can also wait here till it clears up.

The Uiver can handle a little storm.

Sorry, boss, I think I misunderstood.

The DC-2 can handle any kind of weather, I was told.

Just see that you get there. Fly into that storm.

Re-establish contact with Batavia.

It must pass via Kootwijk. -Just get it done. Hurry up.

I'm sorry, atmospheric disturbances. A connection is impossible now.

If this is over, I want your resignation.

Any news about the storm? -Leave the flying to me, Miss Rasche.

It wasn't my intention to sit on your lap. What about the storm?

We're not worried about it.

I hope we can pull it across.

I have more bad news: the hydraulics still aren't fixed yet.

...owing to the forward-looking vision of KLM's director Albert Plesman.

Plesman may rightly be called a visionary.

If I was Frits I'd have done the same. It is absurd, isn't it? Always the same.

Every deal with Fokker ends up in a pissing match.

That's why I want to get rid of him. -First at the ELTA.

Then with 'Koolhooven's' Fat Dirk. You only had that built to get rid of Fokker.

I had it built because it had vision.

Don't be so stubborn. -Don't be so stubborn.

Let Frits rage. Parmentier knows what he's doing and the DC-2 is the best machine...

There's an oil leak in the landing gear.

If that storm forces them to make an emergency landing...

Shouldn't we fly lower? You can't see a thing.

We have to get above the storm.

Ice on the propellers. They're blowing it against the hull.

If you don't intend to fly yourself, please sit down again.

Sent an SOS? -No response.

Take in the trailing aerial, before it gets struck by lightning.

That way we can't contact the ground. Land this thing at once...

There.

That's the Fairey Fox.

At least we're not alone.

No news. No one knows where the Uiver is. -Someone must have seen something.

All radio stations, ships and train stations are sending out signals.

Would you mind staying a while? I'm going crazy here by myself.

I promised Parmentier's wife I'd call.

Is everything going okay?

All under control. We're almost past the storm.

You have no idea where we are, do you? -Quiet. Sit down and fasten your seatbelt.

Where's the champagne?

Mom? It's Tony.

I... I think I was rather rude to you. -Why are you calling now?

Aren't you listening to the radio? -What happened?

Any news?

And now? -No.

If we don't land within a few minutes...

Look, here you go.

And now?

Jan.

What are you doing here? -Is there any news?

No. I think it's better if you...

Is it okay if I follow the race here? I won't cause you any trouble.

No. -Parmentier also worked for me, you know.

Come on in.

If anyone can pull it off, it's Parmentier. -I know that.

What kind of radio do they have? -Philips VF-5. Four wavelengths.

Range? -2,000 metres.

If the antenna wire still works.

Van Brugge, that city. That city is flashing, there.

That's Morse. A-L...

U-R-Y.

Al...bury. Who's Al Bury? -Albury.

Albury. -We're way off course.

No airfield nearby. -We have to land.

Yes, but where?

There.

Wheels out. -Wheels out.

100 metres. -Brakes on, Moll, it's a short runway.

Oil pressure off. -Manually, then. 50 metres.

20. Moll? -Too late, no brakes.

10.

They're safe.

Congratulations. -Congratulations, boss.

With what? We're not there yet. -But we can't go on now, can we?

Goddamn, so close. How fast can I get a connection with Parmentier?

The mud brought us to a halt, boss. We didn't even need those brakes.

Can you get it fixed? -I think so.

How are the competitors doing?

The Comet of Scott and Campbell Black has already landed in Melbourne.

But you're still ahead of Roscoe Turner's Boeing and you're leading the handicap race.

That means we have to go on.

Please stay safe. I don't want to lose you. -Of course, boss.

Thanks.

We'll never make that. We're much too heavy.

Careful.

You can take the train to Melbourne. The KLM will pay for the tickets.

92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97...

98, 99, 300.

If we're not off the ground by this point, we can still abort.

Good luck.

A good thing he doesn't know that we really need 500 metres.

Full pitch. -Full pitch.

Power.

I'm going to take off. Full power. -Full power.

We're too low. -We'll make it. Flaps down.

Flaps down.

We're free.

The Uiver landed in Melbourne on Friday and won first place in the Handicap Race...

and second place in the Speed Race.

And that with a passenger airplane. It's a truly magnificent achievement.

Dad.

You really should go outside.

Albert.

My letter of resignation will be on your desk tomorrow morning.

Through the eye of the needle.

But I won't forget it.

You could also thank Albert for once. This is the biggest success you've ever booked.

Success? You think the British are happy that we have better passenger airplanes?

This is a humiliation. Now we can forget about those landing rights.

By the way, I arranged with Douglas that I also get the rights...

for every derived version of the DC-2. To make up for that misunderstanding.

But enjoy it. Albert.

Plesman, Plesman, Plesman, Plesman.