F. P. 1 Doesn't Answer (1933) Movie Script

- Hotel Atlantic?

Give me the hall porter.

Listen there,

there's a gentleman

waiting for me in the hall.

An odd-looking gentleman

called Sunshine.

Yes, sir,

hold on, please.

Hello.

You!

Telephone.

Number two.

- Oh, there you

are, now, Sunshine,

call up some of

the morning papers.

Tell them there's a story.

At the Lennartz Shipyard,

between 11:00 and 11:05 tonight.

Lennartz Shipyard, yes.

It's a story with a kick

in it, you might get hurt.

Don't go to sleep

while you are doing it.

Keep my name out

of it, and uh...

- May I be in on this?

- On what?

- Whatever it is at

the Lennartz Shipyard.

- Lennartz Shipyard?

- Hello!

Are you not there?

All right, good night.

- I'm afraid you are

making a mistake.

- Oh, I see.

Excuse me.

- As a matter of fact, I did

have an appointment at 11:00.

In a more convenient

place than a shipyard.

Fortunately I was

putting it off.

My luck is marvelous.

Would you like to dance?

- No, thank you.

As a matter of fact, I have

an appointment at 11:00 too.

- Do you know who that is?

That's Ellissen,

the famous airman.

He's just flown back from

Australia in record time.

- Excuse me, Mathias, I

must talk to you a moment.

- Claire, not in the

middle of a hand.

- Oh--

- Sorry.

- Conrad--

- Darling, I can't stop.

I'm losing.

Two, no trumps.

- Pass.

- That did it.

- All right.

My car, please.

- Boy?

Car for Miss Lennartz.

- Now look here, boys,

have I ever let you down?

No.

Hey, we're from the press.

What's going on here?

- Nothing ever goes

on while I'm about.

Oh.

- There, what did I tell you?

Mm hmm.

F-P

one.

- Hello.

What's going on here?

- I don't know.

The fire brigade turns up--

- Oh look!

There's a light on up there.

- Oh, there you are.

They have surrounded the crooks.

They're fighting like madmen.

You have a very nice camera

there, what about a picture?

Come on, hurry up.

And now you call the

police, good night.

- Property of B. Droste,

Lieutenant Commander.

Telephone, 4432.

- Hello?

Yes, Commander Droste speaking.

What, Lennartz Shipyard?

Stolen, tonight?

No one knew my

drawings were there.

Certainly, I'll

come along at once.

Lennartz Shipyard.

- Commander Droste, what

exactly was in the file?

- I think that's a matter

for the police alone.

- You need have no

scruples, commander.

This is Mr. Mathias

Lennartz and his brother,

Mr. Konrad Lennartz.

- The files contained

the drawings of a project

on which I've been working

for years, called the FP1.

It seems that no one here

had time to look at them.

- Who is this Commander Droste?

A lieutenant

commander, really.

- Just what is this FP1?

- I hardly think the

lady would be interested.

- In fact you'd

rather I wasn't here.

- Sir, she's our sister.

It's as much her

business as ours.

- I'm sorry, I merely thought

it would be very entertaining.

After all, it's a

purely technical matter.

- Commander Droste

is perfectly right.

If it is a purely

technical matter,

I shall probably

be bored to tears.

Good night.

There she is now.

What's going on?

- Anything yet?

- Do they know who the thief is?

- The thief?

No.

No!

No, they haven't

the slightest idea.

- The FP--

- Good evening, Major Ellisen.

Hello.

- I'm sorry to

disturb your supper,

but it appears you're a thief.

This evening you broke

in to the Lennartz Yard.

- The Lennartz Yard again.

I knew you had an interest

in that old shipyard.

- Yes, you're quite right.

As a matter of

fact, I own exactly

33 and third percent of it.

You see, I'm Claire Lennartz.

Oh.

Now you have

disturbed my supper.

- It may disturb

you further to know

that at this moment the

police are making inquiries.

- Oh, I see, you came here

to warn me, thank you.

- Oh, no, I didn't.

I came for the

designs of the FP1.

- And if you don't get them?

I suppose you are going

to call the police

and get me arrested.

- I don't care what

happens to you.

I want those plans to be found.

- Really?

Is that all you want?

Then we both want

the same thing.

Well, before you

call the police,

would you be good

enough to get on

to that shipyard of yours?

- Hello.

- If your brothers are

in the filing office,

it would be a good

idea if they went up

just one flight of stairs

to the floor above.

- Into my office?

Really, I've got to?

For some unexplained reason

we've got to go into my office.

- Good lord.

- What's all this about?

- Just a minute.

Your brothers are now

only halfway upstairs.

They won't have any

difficulty about getting in.

- Already open.

- No!

- Hello.

Is that Miss Lennartz?

- They're in the office now.

- Well it would be

a very good idea

if they would pay

attention to the blotter

which is bang in front of them.

You're to pay

attention to the blotter,

which is bang of front of you.

Those

are my drawings!

The FP!!

- Thank you, gentlemen.

- Now for some good hot coffee.

I've earned it, haven't I?

- Well, you've called

out the fire brigade,

broken into our offices,

disturbed the whole town

in the middle of the night.

Yes, I think you've

earned it, all right.

However, if you're not too

interested in your coffee,

why did you--

- Why did I

steal the drawings that

I didn't steal at all,

yes.

- Yes.

- Of course, it must

seem rather odd to you.

You see, Droste and I have

known each other for years.

Everything that men

could go through

between heaven and earth,

we went through together.

And after the war, Droste

lost himself in his drawings.

But I climbed into my airplane

and fluttered around

the globe a few times.

And every time I'd come home,

there sits Droste, getting

more and more hopeless,

waiting for someone

to build his FP1.

But

your captains of industry won't

even look at his drawings.

They don't seem to

know progress means.

Suddenly I had a

tremendous idea.

I'll fetch the

file with FP1 on it

from the furthest corner

of the filing office,

and just by carrying it

up one flight of stairs,

prove to the

captains of industry

that there is something

new in the world.

- Well,

you certainly chose a very

a roundabout way

of getting there.

- Hmm.

What else can you do nowadays?

- I think it was

marvelous of you to do it.

Well, Droste

would do the same for me.

- You know,

I feel a little

ashamed of myself.

- Why?

Because you thought I was

a gang of crooks, huh?

- Mm hmm.

- That's my fate.

Always misunderstood.

Are you gonna help

us with the construction?

- No, I'll let

Droste do all that.

But when the FP1 is ready,

I'm going to the

first to land on it.

If they ask me nicely.

- Yes, but what are

you going to do now?

- I'm starting on a big

expedition tomorrow.

Canada, Finland, Alaska.

Perhaps stopping in

at the North Pole.

- Oh, I see.

- Good evening.

- Evening.

- Should we go outside?

- Mm hmm.

- I want to talk to you.

I wish you'd been at

the meeting, what a

tremendous battle.

They could all prove on paper

that the FP1 couldn't be built.

If I'd been a man I

might have believed them.

What about fellow Droste?

He's as stubborn as

an old professor,

and as shy as a schoolboy.

Well, what did

you want to say just now?

It's about this

dropping in at the North Pole.

Why don't you give up this

eternal wandering around?

Why should I?

- A man can't always

live in a hotel.

You ought to have a

home and a background.

Don't you realize there are

other things in the world

besides breaking records

and hunting elephants

and flying across oceans.

- Other things?

- Mm.

- Why, isn't that enough?

- Well just now

you're a popular hero.

But that sort of

thing doesn't last.

This rushing 'round the globe

doesn't get you anywhere.

You oughta settle down.

- Not at all.

This life suits me beautifully.

I can't settle down.

- Is there nothing

you mind leaving?

- Eh?

Yes.

There is something here.

Why, Elephant!

Ellissen!

- We ought never

to have a waited.

I hate being late

for a conference.

- We ought to have Ellisen here.

I mean, after all,

if it wasn't for him,

there wouldn't be any

FP1 to confer about.

- I wouldn't say that.

- Hello, hello!

- Hello.

- Hello, Droste.

- How do you do?

Are you

ready, Major Ellisen?

- No, I'm not coming.

I'm not the sort of

man for conferences.

- What did I tell you?

- What?

Now look here, I'm sorry if I...

- Anyway you'll be

there, Miss Lennartz.

- I'm afraid I wouldn't

be very interested.

You see it's a purely

technical matter.

- Oh, come along, Ellisen,

I want you to be there.

- I'm very sorry,

there's another reason.

I am booked up for this evening.

We're

waiting, Droste.

- Bye.

- Goodbye.

- So long, Ellissen.

- Goodbye.

- Why don't you go with them?

- Because I have a

supper engagement.

- What, here?

- Yes, here.

- Couldn't you put it off?

- No I can't put it

off, it's with you.

Is it marvelous?

Is it an amazing thing?

The meteor works.

There's a new model

7,000 TK

at my disposal

for a non-stop flight

of the world.

- It'll make a

marvelous picture.

- Sunshine, you old devil.

There's some new for you!

Non-stop, right

'round the world!

Nobody's done that yet.

Get hold of the bill.

Pack the trunk!

I am setting out at once.

- Hello.

Hold the line a minute.

The lady.

- What lady?

- 10 o'clock sharp.

- Hello.

- Claire.

Claire, do you know

what's happened?

- No, what?

- I am going to be the

first to fly non-stop

'round the world.

Yes.

Look at that.

- Yes, but

I thought you wanted to--

- To drop in on the North Pole?

Oh, well I will cancel that.

I have got something

more important to do.

Just a minute,

hello, porter.

- Hello.

- Telephone to

the flying ground.

Let them tune up my machine.

I'm starting in half

an hour, no, no, no no.

Just send a telegram.

The Meteor Works,

you know the address.

Accept offer,

arriving immediately.

And send the bill, come on,

hurry up, hurry up there.

Claire, I'm awfully sorry.

There was something I

was going to tell you.

But never mind, I

will be back soon.

I don't know exactly

when, just a few days.

How are you going to get home?

Oh.

That's all right, I've

got my car outside.

I only came because I thought...

Well, it doesn't matter.

Don't bother.

- Claire, when,

well, goodbye.

Claire, goodbye.

- Ellissen always

talks like that.

He'll be back in three days.

And then he stops

away three years.

- What I shall say to

Captain Droste is this:

This FP1 ain't natural,

that's what I shall say.

And for why?

Because if it had been

natural to have an island

in that particular

spot, there'd've been

one there already,

and there wouldn't be a

need for a second one.

- Then what would you tell him?

- You tell him about my tooth.

I ain't superstitious,

but you mark my words.

Every time this tooth is

bad, something awful...

Now I remember the last time.

What about

a little work up there?

Come on, get going!

- Yes, and tell that fellow

if he turns up again,

I'll break his neck.

You understand that?

- What's the matter?

- That man has been

hanging around the place,

trying to take photographs.

They're just showing

him the way out.

- There, I'll fix ya if

I catch you here again.

how a

man like that got in here.

- You don't have

anything to be proud of.

I've been chucked out

by better men than you.

- We've gotta double

the watch, Lubin.

I don't like the look of things.

- Double the watchmen?

Just because of a miserable

little photographer?

Now what harm can he do?

- Oh, it's not only

because of that.

What do you make of that?

- That's from the front bows.

- Exactly.

Cut clean away!

I found it in 412, between

the double flooring.

Now that can't all

be bad workmanship,

you know, it's impossible.

Someone's playing around with

those before they arrive.

Have you

told the police?

- No, I haven't, and

I'm not going to.

We'd better settle

this ourselves.

It took years to gain the

public confidence in the FP1.

We can't afford to risk

losing it like that.

All right, Lubin,

put on another shift.

From now on, we

work day and night.

Right.

- Hello.

- I'm awfully glad you came.

Things are going

extremely well and, and--

- And you're an

extremely poor liar.

Things aren't going well.

- But, they are,

really they are.

- Oh, Droste.

Can't you tell me?

What is going on here?

- Some important drawings

were stolen here.

Two days later they

turned up again.

Two days'd be plenty

of time to copy them.

These are the plans of

the sprinkler system,

for putting out fire.

- Mm hmm.

You see, there

are spies in industry

as well as war.

- But no one else

can build the FP1.

- No, but they can destroy it.

From the first day, something's

been working against me,

something I can't

lay my hands on.

What it is I don't know.

Vested interests,

international concerns,

perhaps some great

trust or combine.

Something impersonal,

without a soul.

You see, progress sacrifices

the old order of things.

That's why progress

always has its enemies.

- Our confidential man has

carried out his orders.

But his work's been intercepted

and the results you require

have not been achieved.

- Inform our confidential man

that no further measures

are to be undertaken

for the present.

- These people can't be caught.

And if you did catch anyone,

it would be some

fool of a workman

who wants to earn a

little extra money,

and who knows nothing at all

about the whole business.

But I'll beat them, all right.

We'll build the FP1 in

spite of all of them.

In two years, you'll have

forgotten all about this.

And the FP1'll be

stationed in mid-Atlantic

with airplanes coming to

it from all over the world.

You know who'd be the

first to land on it?

- No, who?

- Ellissen.

- Ellis--

- Of course, Ellisen.

Oh, he'll turn up

again, all right.

He's been missing before.

And always when people

least expect him,

he returns to civilization.

- Well I hope you're right.

Oh, I wish I could do

something to help you.

- You have helped, a great deal.

In fact,

you've helped more than anybody.

- How?

- By be believing in my

ideas from the very start.

And if you go on

believing, we can't fail.

- Of course I will.

- Lennartz Yard,

calling Captain Droste.

- He's not here,

send 'round for him.

Calling Captain Droste.

Calling Captain Droste,

Calling Captain Droste.

Lennartz Yard, calling

Captain Droste.

- Amber, which one?

- In there, sir.

Droste speaking.

- Lennartz Yard here.

- Good morning, gentlemen.

- It's good evening

where we are, Droste.

- Yes, of course.

Well everything's

in perfect order.

You can send your airliners

whenever you like.

We're absolutely ready for them.

- Hello.

How are you?

- Hello.

Hold on a second.

I'm awfully glad

you're there too.

- Are things really all right?

- Yes, really.

Promise me

nothing's happened.

Oh dear, I've been

so worried about you.

- Have you really, Claire?

- Mm.

- Then perhaps I can

tell you something I,

well I've wanted

to tell you, only,

well it's easier now that

I'm miles away from you.

Listen Claire, we only

have a half minute more.

I...

you...

Well I'd better tell

you when I see you.

- Oh, no no, no tell me now.

We'll be cut off in a minute.

- Well, Claire, I

wanna tell you that--

Hello?

- Hello?

Oh.

- Ellissen!

Ellissen!

Man, where have you been

all this time, how are...

- Good evening, Major Ellissen.

Where on earth have

you turned up from?

Well, I suppose you

know we've built the FP1

and it's already in position.

- Yes, I've heard all about it.

- We've just been

speaking to Droste.

- I wanted to be

here before but,

but I really couldn't manage it.

- Anyway, I'm glad

you're here now.

- Well where have you

been all this time?

Come along and tell us about it.

Yes.

Please.

- Give me your hat.

- Thanks.

Sit down, won't you?

Cigarette?

- Oh yes, where have

I been all the time.

Well, it's a long story.

A non-stop flight, as you know,

that

stopped.

And then, what happened then?

Oh, yes, my friend

the governor of Manila

wanted me to go

cruising with him.

And then we made a

trip to the South Seas

and from there we went on to um,

to um,

let me see.

Where was it?

Oh never mind, I'll tell

you some other time.

- Well, why don't you

have dinner with us?

We can talk about things then.

- Yes, yes do.

- That's a good idea.

- And now if you'll

excuse me, Ellissen,

I've got a good deal to do.

- Of course.

- Conrad, you've got to

see the press association.

- Oh, yes.

Right you are, see you later.

- You're quite right.

I was making it all up.

You told me my luck

wouldn't last forever.

After I crashed in Alaska,

I didn't say where I was.

I didn't like to.

You see, I've never

failed before.

I had no plane.

I had no money.

I didn't want to

come home a failure.

I tried one thing after

another, but nothing succeeded.

Once your luck's out,

it stays out.

I've had plenty of time

to think of what you told me.

You remember, Claire?

Now I understand.

I'm giving up this

wandering around.

I'm going to work.

I'm going to settle down,

I'm going to do everything

you think I should.

- Don't you think

we'd better go now?

Mathias will be waiting.

- Claire.

I'm going to do everything I

should have done two years ago.

I've learned my lesson.

I'm never going to fly again.

Are you glad, Claire?

Don't say it's too late.

And it's going all right.

But you must stick by me.

I must have someone,

you understand.

- You've been away a long time.

- Don't answer now.

I wouldn't expect you

to decide your whole life

at a moment's notice.

But if you decide,

you can find me

in St. Pauli's Hotel.

- Weather report

from St. George, sir.

Just come in.

- Mm, looks rather bad

for us, doesn't it?

We ought to take

on more water ballast.

- Oh, it's not necessary.

- What are we drawing now?

- 120 feet.

- If we're going

to have a storm,

we should take every precaution.

- Yes, Lubin's right, we

ought to be deep in the water.

Take in another 50,000 tons.

They're letting

water into the float.

- That means they

want to lie deeper.

And that means we're

going to have a storm.

- There you are, I told ya.

She knows.

- It's been tampered with.

Someone's been taking an

impression of that lock.

- Aw, surely not.

There's no one

here who'd want to.

- Oh isn't there?

For two years they've

left us alone.

Now it begins again.

- After all, out here...

Suppose they smuggled one

of their men on board.

- Send the article's

command room.

I'll go over that list

and account for everybody.

- Right.

- Flashlight.

Hey!

What are you doing down there?

- I've just found

something, food, water,

and signal lights

hidden away here.

- I see.

All ready for

somebody to get away.

Are these boats always guarded?

- Yes, sir.

I wonder if he could--

And it's

about time, too.

Yes, I've

been watchin' ya.

Always

nosing around here.

Look

out, the Captain!

- What's the matter?

- Here.

Who is this man?

- They caught

him rooting around

in the engine room.

- Haven't I seen you before?

- Probably.

I wasn't always a

cleaner of door handles.

Formerly I was a private

photographer to Major Ellissen.

The well-known aviator.

- Yes.

- Besides, Lubin and

I are old friends.

- What?

- Oh, yes.

You once kicked me

out of the Lennartz Yard.

I can't say that I like

working with him very much.

But I had to be on the spot

to take the first photograph.

- Oh, I see.

You're the one that's

been amusing himself

with flashlights.

- Yep.

- From now on, confine your

attention to door handles.

- If I kick you out of the FP1,

you won't come back

again so easily.

You ever heard of sharks?

- Mr. Droste, the wireless

operator has been taken ill.

What?

- Typical signs of poisoning.

He must have swallowed something

with scopolamine in it.

- Mac.

Mac.

What have you been eating?

- In the canteen.

Coffee.

- Well, do the best

you can, Doctor.

We'd better keep it quiet.

I'll be in the wireless room

if you want me for anything.

Right.

Lubin, what

are you doing here?

- I've just taken over until

the other operator arrives.

- Never mind, never mind.

- It's a bit warm in here.

Funny business, isn't it?

I was with the poor

fellow in the canteen,

only an hour ago.

- Yes, the doctor didn't

understand it at all.

I wonder what's behind all this.

Wasn't the transmitter

working just now?

- No, everything was quiet.

- Well I heard something.

I'm gonna send for a fresh crew.

- If the call's late,

we shall miss the

first act of the opera.

- Good.

- What do you mean good?

- Well, you never

know your luck.

- Hello.

Am I late again?

- Oh, no.

Oh.

- Oh.

We've still

got 20 minutes to spare.

The shot-way won't be

free till half past nine.

- I tell you it's

someone who's being paid

to work against us.

Some fool who thinks

he can sink the FP1.

- He can hardly sink it

just by copying a key.

- Not even the key to the?

All he'd have to do is

open the flood valves,

fix the diesel so we

couldn't close them again,

and there's nothing to

prevent the FP1 from filling.

- Sinking, like a tin

man with a hole in it.

Droste,

nonsense.

You're trying to pull

my leg.

He can't be that much of a fool.

He'd have to sink with it.

- Not if he had a

motorboat all prepared

with food and drink

and signal lights

so that he could get away

to sea and find a ship.

Where's

he going to find a ship?

The Atlantic's a

big place, Droste.

- Well I'm not

taking any chances.

I'm going to close the

flood valves at once.

Who is this meant...

- Keep quite still

or I'll shoot.

- Oh.

So that's what you're

gonna do, is it?

- Come on, Droste.

Give it up, there's

nothing you can do.

In 36 hours there won't be

anything here but water,

just as it was before

Captain Droste had

his great inspiration.

- I see.

That's why the wireless

operator was off duty tonight.

So that the message

that was meant for you

shouldn't get into

anyone else's hands.

So simple.

By the way, Lubin,

how much are they paying you?

- More than I'd earn on

your FP1 in 100 years.

Come on, Droste,

put up your hands!

And stand up.

Stand!

- Hello, hello, Lennartz

Shipyard calling.

Hello, hello!

- Droste!

- Hello, Droste.

- Droste!

Droste!

Don't you understand,

it's Droste!

No, it's.

- Droste!

- Darling.

- Droste.

Droste.

- The FP1 doesn't answer.

We'll

send out an SOS.

There must be a ship

somewhere about.

- You know we can't do that.

- But why not?

We've had

all this out before.

It would spoil

everything if the public

were alarmed just

before the opening.

- We must do something.

If we can't send out an SOS,

then we must send out a plane.

Oh we must!

- We can't!

- We can, and I'm

going with him.

- Claire, you're making

too much of this.

There'll be some

perfectly simple explanation

if you'll only

wait till morning.

No one's going to fly

halfway across the Atlantic

at five minutes' notice.

- In any case, you

couldn't get a pilot

at this time of night.

- Oh yes I could.

There's one I could get.

- Yes?

- There's a lady to see you.

- Claire.

I began to think you

weren't coming and then...

But you have come, Claire.

- I want you to do

something for me.

- I'll do anything for

you, you know that.

Anything between

heaven and earth.

- I want you to

take me to the FP1.

I've got a plane ready.

- Claire, why are you

worrying about the FP1 now?

- They're in great danger,

Droste and everyone.

- Is that why you came to me?

- I've no one else to help me.

- If I do fly, that means

you're giving me

my chance again?

- Yes.

- Look.

- That's the FP1!

Remember, I

told you I'd be the first

to land on it!

If they asked me nicely.

What's happened to

everyone down there?

- Aren't you going to land?

- Of course.

Are you all right?

- Yes, I'm, I'm all right.

- Fine.

Hello!

Let's go up.

, huh?

Gas.

Uh huh.

That's where it came

from, sprinkler plan.

- Droste!

- Droste.

Come on, tell us,

what's the matter?

Hmm?

What's happened?

Not so bad, no.

It's not so bad.

Water.

I'll get water.

Oh, my dear.

My very dear, dear.

Oh my dear.

- Uh huh.

Sunshine!

What are you doing here?

Hmm, that better?

- Yes, thanks.

- What's that?

water

running in the floats.

- What for?

- Just ballast.

It's been running

ever since last night.

- We must stop it.

Where's the control room?

- 323.

- Come on.

- I believe it's here.

- Well pull the door.

It's closed.

- Still coming in.

There's no power.

The flood valves

can't be closed.

- Our confidential man

has completed his work.

No messages have been

sent out from the FP1

for the last 12 hours.

- We may therefore rest

assured that the FP1

is now a matter of past history.

And our

confidential man?

- Was informed that the

steamer Marshall Tennyson

would pick him up.

And the

steamer Marshall Tennyson?

- Was of course never sent out.

- The flood valves have been

open for nearly 23 hours.

We've taken in

156,000 tons of water.

- That means we can

keep afloat for between

16 and 17 hours.

Where's Ellissen?

- I don't know, I think

he's by the plane.

- And what about the crew?

- Another couple of hours,

and we shall all

have been done in.

Aint that right?

- The whole gunwale has

been shot to pieces.

- There isn't a drop

of oil on board!

- Quiet.

You don't need to drown.

Have you forgotten that Droste

has supplied you

with motorboats?

The motorboats!

No one is

going to leave the FP1.

The first man to make

a move will be shot.

- Let me pass.

Put those guns away.

- I'm in command here.

- You were in command.

But I didn't fly

here to amuse myself.

I flew here because I was told

that human lives were in danger.

And I'm going to see that

those lives are saved!

get in the boats!

- Wait!

Do you think I'll give

up the FP1 like that?

Never.

There's nothing to

be alarmed about.

We can float until

tomorrow morning.

I'll send out the planes,

they can pick up a ship.

The propellors

are smashed!

The motorboats!

- Well, aren't you going?

I'm afraid I won't

be able to escort you

this time.

- Ellissen!

Why did you send those men away?

Don't you realize

there's nothing we now?

- Certainly.

And I'm very glad.

In 12 hours we will have

finished with everything.

You and me and,

we three.

You who helped to start the FP1

will come to an end with it.

I rather

like that idea.

If I have lived my life,

just as soon die with it.

- What's the matter

with you, Ellissen?

- Claire knows what's

the matter with me.

I will leave her to explain it.

Call me when we start to sink.

I don't want to miss

the end of Droste's FP1.

- We must try and

fix up one machine

with what parts we can find.

Let's get to work, I

want to leave at sunrise.

- All right, ready?

- Yeah, yeah.

Right, up!

Up!

It's

your move, go on.

- Check.

What's the matter?

Are you worrying about

your precious life?

Things are getting a

bit warm, aren't they?

- Yes,

they are.

- What are you doing?

Get out!

Leave me alone.

- You oughta be thankful

you don't have to

go up in this plane.

- No one'll go up in that.

It's only a few spare parts

tied together with string.

Do you know the only way

to get that to go up?

Blow it up with gunpowder.

- There are only 15

and a half gallons

of petrol in Major

Ellissen's plane.

- 15 and a half gallons?

Well I can get a fair

distance on that.

- Then put it in this one.

- What a good story.

Whilst the FP1 is sinking,

Major Ellissen, the

once-famous airman,

allows his friend Droste,

with a broken shoulder,

to attempt the flight.

It'll make a marvelous picture.

- He won't start

in that machine!

No one could!

No one with any sense

would attempt it!

- You know more about airplanes

than all the rest of

them put together.

Why don't you help Droste?

- I'm sick of Droste

and you and everyone.

I'd have done

anything for Droste,

but he was to clever for me.

He's been playing his own game.

And for that, everything

that meant anything

in my life has gone.

He's just been fooling me.

They have all been fooling me.

- That isn't true.

When I came to you

the other night

and asked you to save the FP1,

I almost told you the truth.

- What is the truth?

- That I love Droste.

I'd make any

conditions you like.

You can let Droste

attempt this flight,

even though you know he

hasn't got a chance, or...

Oh well, we're

entirely in your hands.

It seems you are in

command, after all.

I'm going, Claire.

I've come to say goodbye.

- Oh, please.

Please don't go just yet.

I want to talk to you first.

- And why now?

We can talk about

it when I get back.

Oh I can't

let you fly, I can't.

- Listen, Claire, listen.

I've got to go,

don't you understand?

I've got to find a

ship with enough oil

to start the diesels and

close the flood valves.

It's our only chance.

- Yes, but,

please, please

don't go just yet.

I must talk to you now.

- You really imagine you

can make that thing fly?

Look at the fuselage!

It's not properly braced.

The controls are all flabby.

You'd better put

this in a museum.

That's a funny-looking key.

There's no pressure.

* Da da da dee

Just give the prop a twist.

Contact!

There you are, I told

you it was no good.

Not one kick in her.

- Oh, don't be unhappy

about it, Claire.

It really doesn't matter.

I'll be back in a

few hours and...

Bye.

- Let her roll!

Airplane on the port quarter!

- You must tell,

ready for the diesels.

What sort of

a boat is this anyway?

And where are you going?

- We're bound for

Chile, to hunt condors.

- What?

My dear good fellow, you

won't find condors in Chile.

You must go up to Peru.

But even there, you

won't find them alone.

Without me.

And I'll go with you.

I have plenty of time now.

I'll show you the way.

If you ask me nicely.

F. P. 1 Doesn't Answer (1933) - full transcript

Extract Subtitles From Media