No Highway in the Sky (1951) - full transcript

[ Drumroll ]

[ Engine roaring ]

Oh, yes. Mr. Scott.

Thank you, sergeant.
Sir.

Mr. Scott, sir.

Well, Mr. Scott.
You must be anxious
to get at it.

I thought you'd take
a day or two to get settled
before showing up.

Mrs. Scott seemed to have that
department pretty well in hand.
I see.

[ Chuckles ] Nothing like
somewhere to go while the
curtains are being hung, eh?

That's about it, sir.
I know what you mean.

Did you find a nice flat?
Have they fixed you up
with a good office here?



Quite all right
on both counts.
Good.

You'll want to
take a good look around
before you take over.

Find out what's going on.
Then when you're ready,
we'll have a talk.

Pretty thing, isn't it?
Yes. It's the new reindeer,
isn't it, sir?

Not hard to recognize
by that tail. It's made of
the same metal as the plane.

A new alloy
they've developed.
Very nice.

Major pearl will show you
everything you want to see.

He knows more about
the place than I do.
You're in good hands with him.

We sometimes call him
"the pearl of great price."

Good. I'm in your hands.
I thought we'd start in
just after lunch.

In an hour, a little more,
you could make a start.
Yes, sir.

Fine. I'll see you
in the mess at 1:00.
Buy you a Sherry.

I'm so glad you're here,
Mr. Scott. I've been
looking forward to it.

So have I, sir John.



That's
the original building...
the balloon shed.

Began here
with balloons in the '70s.
That's a very long time.

All the strength tests
to check safety factor
grouped here.

Lot of work just to
find out if the engineer
mucked up his mathematics.

Nothing much to see
until something breaks,

and that always happens
when you're somewhere else.

Not much point in this.
Flying boats are pretty well
obsolete, of course.

Part of boffins' paradise,
this is. Mind your step.

You know,
the scientist lads.
Basic research.

The kind
who eat their porridge
with a slide rule.

Built their own heaven here,
lightning and all,

to find out what happens
when you get hit by it.

Didn't put in any archangels,
but it wouldn't surprise me
if they'd tried.

[ Simulated lightning crashing ]

[ Machinery roaring ]

What...
what's that?

Vibration test.
What?

Vi...

[ roaring stops ]
Now, this is the test to...

no, no, no, no!
Now, major pearl...
uh, Mr. honey.

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

So you'll be
working under him.
How do you do?

I don't allow...
quite an arrangement
you've got there.

It's the tail group of
the new rutland reindeer.
Yes, yes.

What are you
doing to it?
I'm vibrating it.

I mean, what are you after?
What do you expect
to happen to it?

I expect the tail
to fall off.
Excuse me, please.

[ Machinery roaring resumes ]

Right, Mr. Scott.

This way.
Who in the world
is he?

That's Mr. honey.
Mr. Theodore honey.
He's a yank.

Rhodes scholar, I think,
but he's been here forever.

What's all this about
expecting the tail of the
new reindeer to fall off?

They're already in service.

Old honey has some wild hair
in his ear that vibration might
cause metal fatigue someday...

By breaking down
the aluminum atom
in light alloy structures.

Couldn't vibrate anything
little to find out.

All boffins are a bit crackers,
but I suppose he's the worst.

Airscrews are down there,
if you care to see them.

Of course, they're
as dead as the dodo bird.

Same as the engines.
We'll be all jet
in no time.

[ Horn blows ]

[ Chattering ]

Good night, Mr. honey.

Oh.

[ Man ] There you are.
[ Man ♪2 ] Hurry up
there, please. Hurry.

Four only.

[ Bicycle bell dings ]

Mr. honey.
Can I give you a lift?

Why, I seem to be
going your way.

Oh. Oh, no.
No, thank you.

I wouldn't want to
take you out of your way.

Where do you live?
In farnham.
It's quite a way.

I go right through there.

I-I'll get a bus
at the next stop.
I wouldn't want to trouble you.

It's no trouble at all.
Come on. Jump in.

[ Jet engine roaring ]

Why don't you throw
those in the back?
Uh, thank you.

I was quite interested
in that experiment of yours,
with the reindeer tail group.

Would you like to tell me
just what your idea is?

It's rather difficult to
explain a thing like that
in words of one syllable.

Well, I have managed
as much as two syllables
on occasion, Mr. honey.

Well, to put it
as simply as I can,

the purpose of my work
has been to arrive
at an end result...

For the original
theoretical hypotheses...

Of kerslinger of bâle
and schilgarde of uppsala,

in which they
postulate vibration
as a source of energy.

I reasoned that since this
energy does not appear in any
of the ordinary forms...

Such as heat
or electrical potential,

it must be absorbed
by the metal itself...

And that sufficient absorption
would result in nuclear fission
of the aluminum atom...

In an isotopic form
with crystalline
affinities.

I see.

And that means the tail
will fall off.
Exactly.

Oh, h-here's
where I live.

Thank you very much.

You wouldn't...
would you care to come in?

Thank you.
I'd like to.

Oh, I'm afraid
all I can offer you
is some Sherry.

That'd be very nice.
Oh.

Probably not very good.
I've had it quite a while.

Perhaps it's time
we tested it to see if it's
suffering from fatigue.

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

[ plane passing overhead ]

Uh...

oh, I'm so sorry.

It's the one next door.
It's very easy to do,
you know.

You're new to farnham,
Mr. honey.

We've lived here 11 years.

I have it all planned...
what to have for dinner.

Don't you bother with...
oh.

Hello.
You don't remember where
we put that Sherry, dear?

The top cupboard,
behind the dishes.

You said it would be
out of Mrs. Higgins's way.
Really?

I didn't notice any...
up on the top.

Oh! Oh, yeah.

Oh, never mind.
I'll get that later.

I knew it must be
somewhere. I never
really forget anything.

Dear, would you get
some glasses, please?
Come in, won't you?

We haven't had to look for it
for quite some time.

The last guest we had
was Dr. gillingsworth...

From the
bacteriological institute,
just before Christmas.

I'm afraid I'm giving you
a good deal of trouble.
Oh, no. Not at all.

Won't you sit down?
Elspeth?

There we are.
Okay. Say when.

I guess Mrs. Higgins
did find it.
I'll get some more.

I wish you wouldn't bother.
Oh, no. It's no trouble.
It's around the corner.

It needs some... elspeth,
will you entertain Mr....

I don't believe
you told me your name.
Scott.

Scott, this is
my daughter, elspeth.
I'll be right back.

Uh... it's, uh...
yeah.

Won't you sit down,
Mr. Scott?

Uh, just where
would you suggest?

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

You have to be very careful.

It might be something
very important.

There.
Thank you.

I seems as though
your father does quite
a good deal of work.

Yes, it's very hard
being a scientist.

One has to think a great deal.

The world would have made
scarcely any progress at all if
it hadn't been for scientists.

I see. The scientists do
the thinking for the world,

and the rest of us
just live in it,
is that it?

Yes.
When my father's thinking,
I keep very quiet.

What about your mother?
Does she help you
keep quiet?

My mother is dead, Mr. Scott.
A v-2 in the war.

I'm very sorry indeed, elspeth.
You must miss her very much.

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

I try to do things for him
the way she did, but I'm not
very good at it yet.

You see, I'm still
a little young.

I'd like to show you the house,
if you would like to see it.

That would be very nice.

This is the living room,
of course.

Would you like
to see my room?
Yes, I would. Very much.

This way, please.

And this is
where you sit quietly
while he does his thinking.

Yes.

What do you do?
Well, sometimes
I think.

And then
I'm training Theodore.
That's Theodore.

It's a kind of experiment
to determine his capacity
for the association of ideas.

I tie his food on the string
to see how long
it will take him...

To learn to ring the bell
when he's hungry.
[ Ringing ]

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

It doesn't matter
very much whether he
learns to or not...

Because he's really
quite a nice little fish.

Yes. Well, what else
do you like to do?

Don't you ever play games?

Oh, yes. We nearly
always do after dinner.
We have a schedule for it.

Sch... oh, yeah.
What sort of games
do you play?

Oh, like about what things
are pentamerous.
Penta...

oh, how do you play that?

You take turns in
finding things that have
five of everything...

Until one of you
can't find any more.

Then he loses.
It's part of the science
of numerics.

Oh, what other games
do you play?

Oh, well, there's pyramidology.

Pyramid...
"ology."

- Pyramidology. Oh.
- That's the science
of the great pyramid.

My father made it up too...
the game, I mean.
Here it is.

Excuse me.

It was built
in the year 3234 b.C.,

and it's very scientific.

It was built
in direct relationship
to the stars,

so it has an
astronomical significance.

It's the only known
architectural example
of squaring the circle.

That is, the area of the base
is exactly equal
to that of a circle,

with the height
of the structure
as its radius.

It has the most wonderful
maths in it.

I'm sure it must
be great fun.
It is. I have the most fun...

[ honey ]
Elspeth, what have you done
with Mr. Scott there?

We're just coming, father.
We'd better go now.

He may be looking for
something like the corkscrew,

and he really isn't very good
at finding things.

Oh, here. I'll get that
out of your way.
Oh, no, don't...

I'm afraid it's become
a little cluttered in here.

Oh, why didn't I see that?
I think I'd better leave this.

This is some correspondence
I've been having with tanggye,
a Tibetan,

and the abbe delville
in louvain.

It's on the theory of numbers.

In 1742, goldbach postulated...

That every
positive, even integer
is a sum of two primes.

It's been verified to 10,000,
but never proved.

We're trying to prove it.
Yes, I'd want to know
where to find that.

By all means. It sounds
interesting, but isn't it
a little pointless?

Quite. That's the beauty
of it. Here's something
very interesting.

This is rutherford.
Yes, I wanted to finish this.

Yes. He identifies
the ten lost tribes
with the scythians.

Quite conclusively too.
Nice to read aloud
to elspeth.

Oh, yes, I do. Yes.

Light alloy structures
and hysteresis.

You know where
that goes, dear.
And this one.

Oh. Oh, I...

yeah.

One of the more difficult
of the sciences,
I should imagine.

Hmm? What's that?
Oh. Oh, yes, yes.

You know, I didn't find
that very satisfactory.

They seem to have such different
problems with their children
than I've ever had with elspeth.

You haven't found parenthood
very difficult then?
Not at all, really.

Of course, I've been
very systematic about it.
I laid out a schedule.

So much work,
so much sleep,
so much play.

Pyramidology.
Pyramid... yes, yes.

What's been
your experience
in holidays?

I mean, do you send her
away where she can be
with other children?

Do you have any children,
Mr. Scott?

No, but I hope to.
But I'd value your opinion.

I used to send her away
with other children, but
I don't do that anymore.

She never seemed to
like it very much anyway.

I think perhaps that
was because the other
children's minds...

Weren't
well enough organized
to interest her.

She's really much happier here.

She's quite good
at being by herself.

Her... her mind...

Is really developing
quite remarkably,
Mr. Scott.

I think she'll be
a very fine woman.

Yes. I'm sure
she will be.

Well, I'd be...
better be getting along.
Oh?

I'll look in at your office
in a few days' time.

I'd like to hear more about
that experiment of yours...
about the tail falling off.

What did you want
to know about it?
Just a little more detail.

When you expect
failure to occur...
I probably have that here.

I think that
it's here someplace.

I think...
here it is.

Yes.
2.76 times "k" over "l."
That's the time factor.

It's in b.T.I. Units,
of course.

That's, let's see...

that's... 1,440.

1,440 what?
Hours.

You don't mean you expect
the reindeer tail to fall off
in 1,400 hours?

No, no. 1,440.

But, Mr. honey, a lot
of aircraft have flown
many millions of Miles...

Without the tails
coming off any of them
because of vibration...

Mr. Scott, you asked me
for the evaluation in time of
my "u" subscript "m" symbol.

The mathematical answer is
1,440 hours to failure...

For the specific tail plane
under test on which
my calculations are based.

Now, how long has
your test been running?

832 hours, 14 minutes
and seven seconds,
as of shutdown tonight.

They don't allow me
to run it more than
eight hours a day.

The people
in the neighborhood complain
about the racket at night.

Yes, but you know,
of course, that an aircraft
in commercial service...

Is likely to pile up
flying hours faster
than your experiment.

That's probably quite true.
Then why didn't you insist
on a 24-hour basis?

I did insist on it
originally, but they decided
to do it for eight hours.

Yes, but you hadn't
given them your
1,440 hour figure.

Well, I never include detail
on my preliminary report.

Science is in no hurry,
Mr. Scott.

I'm working on a principle,
which, if I'm correct,
will be true for all time.

But whether I reach it
a day or so later or earlier
is not important.

But it might be important for
the 50 or so people who take off
in these reindeers every day.

You don't understand.
I'm a scientist, and
science is very exacting.

It requires the utmost
concentration.

I can't be concerned
about people.

I... why, if a doctor
is trying to find out
a cure for a disease,

what would happen if he let
himself be upset about everybody
that got sick and died?

He'd never get
any work done at all.

People must be
someone else's concern.

I can't let it be mine,
Mr. Scott.
But...

you can find
my preliminary report
in the files,

and I... I don't wish
to add anything more to it
at the present time.

If you'll excuse me,
I think... I think I'd
better be getting home.

Father.

Oh.

It's very easy to do, you know.

Well, good-bye,
elspeth.
Good-bye, Mr. Scott.

Good-bye, Mr. honey.

[ Jet passing ]

Excuse me, please, gentlemen.

Rub her down, ned.

Don't give her any water
till she stops sweating.

Scotty! No!

What are you
doing here?
Ah, bill, hello.

I've been watching that plane.
I guessed it was you.
How are you?

What are you doing here?
Have you come here for a job?
No, I got one.

You have?
That calls for a drink.
Well, it's a little early.

Rosie? Customers.
What are you gonna fly,
Scotty?

No more flying.
Matrimony set in.
Grounded, eh?

How'd it happen?
Or perhaps you'd sooner
not talk about it.

You wait till you see her.
Really? I'm glad to see
you can take it so well.

Rosie. Scotty, meet Rosie.
She's a spy.
[ Giggling ]

Wait till you see her bedroom.
It's absolutely papered
in blueprints, isn't it?

Oh, Mr. penworthy.
[ High-pitched voice ]
"Oh, Mr. penworthy."

Two large scotches,
please.
Yes, sir.

What is your job, Scotty?
Head of metallurgy.

Don't tell me you're
polishing your pants.

Don't tell me you're
one of those crawling
little desk blokes.

Always was, pen.
Went back to it
when I got out.

This is vodka.
[ Laughing ]
Oh, Mr. penworthy!

Well, off we go.
Off we go.

Don't you like
desk blokes, bill?
Listen, Scotty.

Pilots and desks,
dogs and cats...
natural enemies.

They've got one
theme song... you can laugh.
"Pilot's error."

Anything goes wrong with
their calculations and there's
a smashup, pilot's error.

Rosie.
You remember Harry ward?
Yes, I do.

Look what they did to him.

He was piloting that reindeer
when it flew into the hill at
labrador a couple months ago.

All in little pieces.
Nothing to go on. Pilot dead,
so... pilot's error.

You don't think
it was pilot's error.

With Harry ward, Scotty?
You can't be serious.

They said he was
dropping off altitude
in an overcast.

He wouldn't do
a crazy thing like that
if he tried.

Rosie! If you can
tear yourself away
from the salt mines...

[ Rosie giggling ]
We would like
a couple of "wodkas."

Oh, Mr. penworthy!

Seven to 10 degrees angle
of descent, motors full on
when he hit the hill.

Obviously he was in control.
Dropping off altitude
in the overcast.

Pilot's error.
He didn't reckon
on that hill.

Do you know how many hours
it had flown, with tests?

How many hours it had flown,
with tests. Yes, I can tell
you that. Certainly.

Just one minute.
They flew a lot of tests,
simulated flights in weather.

Uh, total number
of flying hours before
estimated time of crash:

1,407.

1,407?
That's right.

Have you any photographs
of the wreckage?

How many would you
like to see? We cover
everything here, Mr. Scott.

We leave nothing out,
I assure you.

Reindeer crash:
Photographs of wreckage.

Any particular part
of the wreck?
Yes, the tail plane.

Hmm.
I want to see a photograph
of the tail plane.

Yes, I remember now.
They didn't find
the tail plane.

Nothing unusual in that,
I assure you.

The plane turned over
as it hit the hill,
caught fire.

Wreckage spread all over the
place. Thick undergrowth.
You can't see 10 feet.

The investigation...
thanks very much.
I'm much obliged.

All right. We send
someone to labrador,

comb through that
godforsaken country for a
section of the tail spar...

And take a fine hiding
from the taxpayers when we
find there's nothing to it.

All the ruddy decisions
to make and never one
you can be sure about.

One thing you do know:

A boffin
has to be a bit balmy
to be a boffin.

The line between genius
and being just plain
crackers is so thin,

you never know which side
you're on, nor when they've
crossed it either.

Tchaikovsky, I'm told,
one day began to eat
raw goldfish.

And molière discovered suddenly
that he was better off
standing on his head.

[ Scoffs ]
Oh, we've had it here too.

A fine time all the papers had
when one of our boffins started
pinching girls in the park.

And now our Mr. honey
informs us that reindeers will
fall apart after 1,400 hours...

And holds the time figure
out on us.

If I did things like that,
they'd lock me up.

How long before this infernal
machine of his is due to prove
something, one way or the other?

Weeks yet, sir.
Get it on a 24-hour
basis today.

Better get someone to handle
the complaints when they
start coming in too.

Very good, sir.
How many hours have the other
reindeers in flight done?

Not nearly as many, sir.
The one in labrador
was the prototype.

It did all the tests.
That's why it's got
so many hours.

The others were delivered
in a group to the airlines just
before they went into service.

They can't have done
more than 500.

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

I don't want the job
of asking the airline to ground
their nice, new fleet...

With no more to go on
than what Mr. honey says.

Well, that's it.
Oh, wait a minute.

You know who we're sending
to labrador, don't you?

That's right.
Mr. Theodore honey.

He's the one who started
all this. Maybe a good, hard
climb will do him good.

Still, he knows what he's
looking for better than anyone.
Get him started soon as you can.

I'll give him
the good news
right away, sir.

[ Woman on p.A. ]
Passengers for flight 26
for gander and Montreal:

Will you please have
your embarkation slips ready...

And proceed to the exit door
for boarding the aircraft?

That it?
Yes. You'll have to
go through that door.

Every stitch
he has in the world
is in that bag.

You can't say he squanders
what he makes on himself.

Well...
have a good trip,
Mr. honey.

Don't worry.
We'll look after elspeth.
That's very kind of you.

They'll look
after you, dear.
Yes, I know.

Have you got
your sandwich? Oh, yes.
Yes, yes, I have.

Tomato, cheese,
and there was some nice fish.

Good-bye, daddy.
Good-bye, dear.

I'm afraid I didn't
bring a handkerchief.

I'm sorry. We were in
such a hurry packing.

Mr. and Mrs. brook holter?
That's right.

Thank you.
Come along.

Your name, please, sir?
Uh, honey. Theodore honey.

And your embarkation
slip, please?

Miss, uh, teasdale.

Oh, yes.
Miss teasdale.

Uh, uh...

thank you, sir.
Oh.

Thank you.

Fasten your safety belts.
No smoking, sir,
until we take off.

[ Woman ]
No smoking.
I'm so sorry.

Fasten your safety belts.

Would you like to
take your coat off, sir?
You'll be more comfortable.

That's right.

We haven't many passengers
on this trip, so you can use
this seat for your things.

Oh, thank you.
Fasten your safety belt,
please.

Pardon?
I'll just help you do it.

That's it.
Don't want you to fall out.

- All right now?
- Yes, thank you.
You're very kind.

I'll be back after
we take off to help you
get out of that.

Thank you.
[ Engine revving ]

May I have your...
may I have your attention,
please?

You may unfasten
your seat belts now
and smoke, if you like.

My name is Marjorie corder.
This is Peggy Miller.

We're here to do anything
we can to make your trip
pleasant and comfortable.

We'll be glad to give you
refreshments and drinks
quite free of charge...

And although we both
might regret it personally,
no tipping is permitted.

[ Laughter ]
Thank you, and we're glad
to have you aboard.

Here you are,
miss teasdale.
Thank you.

Anything we can
do for you?
No. Thank you very much.

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

Might as well
make yourself comfortable.

Here's the button
to adjust your seat.

Here's the switch
for your reading light,
when you want it.

We'll serve dinner soon,
but maybe you'd like some
sandwiches and coffee?

Well, I... I...
we have milk too,
if you'd rather.

I think a little coffee
would be nice. I brought
some sandwiches.

My daughter made them.
Her name's elspeth.
Oh.

Well, now, they're probably
much better than ours then.

You sure you didn't
bring your own coffee?
No.

I'll get you some.
Uh, miss...

miss, weren't you...
isn't that Monica teasdale?

That-that one you
were just talking to?
Yes, it is.

She's crossed with us
often. A great many
of the film stars do.

Oh?
Are you a fan of hers?

I didn't mean...
I never go to films,
really, not since...

I... I haven't gone
in years.

Would you like me
to take over
your autograph book?

Oh, no, no.
I don't even have one.
I wouldn't want to trouble her.

Oh, all right.
I'll be back
with your coffee.

[ Woman ]
Oop!
Oh, excuse me.

Didn't mean to wish the baby
on you, but I've got one
making his first trip.

Sometimes they're worse.
Brought his own sandwiches.

Hey, the skipper can't find
his cloud glasses.

He thinks he may have
dropped them in here.
Have a look around for them.

He's quite a bit worried.
Almost ran into a big one.
Oh, no, you don't.

No new-girl jokes here.
She's doing fine.

If you've come for coffee,
help yourself. We give pilots
service. Copilots, no.

Oh, so you're on her side.

Which one's the boffin?
The boffin?

Scientific bloke
from farnborough.
Radio said he was aboard.

Sam thinks he ought
to look around. Courtesy
of the trade and all that.

What's his name?
Theodore honey,
believe it or not.

Don't tell me where he is.
Two-to-one, I can find him.

I'll take the uncombed bloke
halfway down the starboard side.

Looks as though he
didn't have a mother.

Mr. honey, in 21.
Twen... see? Can't miss.

From farnborough.
I've been a bright Lassie.

I've been talking to him
as though he'd never seen
a plane before.

I'll question the master
intelligence. I suppose
he speaks our language.

Let him have
his coffee first.
All right.

I'll come down for him
when we've hit the step.

We'll only give him
the sixpenny tour.

He may ask a few questions
we can't answer.

Here you are, Mr. honey.
No idea you were an expert
on aviation.

I deserve a prize
for talking to you as though
you've never flown before.

Well, I never
have flown before.

What I know about airplanes
is more when they're in pieces.

Well, you seem to be
quite famous.

Captain Samuelson sent down word
he'd like to show you over
the plane... flight deck and all.

They don't do that
for everyone.
You're all being very nice...

I think you'd be interested.
These new reindeers
are beautifully equipped.

Radar and everything.
Is this a reindeer
we're in?

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

I think I'd like to
see it very much.

The copilot will be down
for you, but don't hurry.
Enjoy elspeth's sandwiches.

Over here, pressure
analyzer for the cabin.

Now, will you come
this way, Mr. honey?
Thank you, captain.

You're welcome.
Will you step down,
please?

The engine instruments
are here.

Hank can tell if a
cylinder misfires just once,
and which one it is.

I think he can take a reading
on whether his girlfriend's out
with someone else or not.

Now, then.
Mind the hatch, sir.
Find it, Mac?

Yup. Fuses keep blowing
on the undercarriage
safety circuit.

Here we have
the radar screen, sir.

Radio altimeter,
radio compass, d.F. Loop.
Excuse me, sir.

The r.C. Repeater, which
is duplicated on the pilot's
panel, just in case,

ah, yes. Well, I don't suppose
many things go wrong these days.

Almost never.
Won't even use reconditioned
engines in this line.

We get new ones
every 600 hours.
Mmm. They're pretty things.

They're really
obsolete though,
aren't they?

They're good enough for me.
Not a cylinder's missed a take
yet, and this is the third set.

Have me out of a job
if they don't kick up
a little something soon.

Well, I wouldn't think
that that would hap...

did you say
"the third set"?
That's right.

But I thought the reindeers
were new on this run.

They are, on this run,
but this was one
of the first two built.

The builders wanted experience
with the ship before turning
the fleet over to this line.

We were loaned out a while
on the South American run.
Well, for how long?

Quite a while.
Tell me exactly how many hours
this airplane has flown.

Certainly.
It's right here.

Now, 1,422 up to takeoff.

Anything else, sir?
But...

no, I...

we have dual
a.D.F. Indicators...
that's enough.

Well, did you learn
all about airplanes?

Mr. dobson, I must speak
to the captain at once.

Captain Samuelson's
very busy, Mr. honey.
If there's something I can do...

please tell the captain I have
every reason to believe this
airplane's in serious danger.

I insist on speaking
to him, please.
I'll see what I can do.

What's all this about?
I understand you're not
very happy about something.

Captain, this airplane
and everybody in it's
in very serious danger,

and you must turn back at once.

Um, what sort of danger?
I've been working on
a theory on nuclear fission.

I used the tail plane
of a reindeer as a basis.

According to my calculations,
it'll fail in 1,440 hours.

I see, but this is a theory.
I've done a great deal
of work on this.

This airplane has flown
1,422 hours as of takeoff.

The tail plane can fail
at any moment.

I don't believe you realize
the very strict procedures
under which an airline operates.

Have you ever heard of
an airworthiness certificate?
This is something entirely new.

This is... nobody knows
anything about this.
Why don't they know?

It would seem very strange
if farnborough wouldn't let us
in on a problem like that.

Have they definitely
accepted your theory?

Well, there is no proof, no.
Not the way you mean it.

That's the reason I'm on
my way to labrador right now,
to investigate that crash.

Labrador?
That airplane crashed
at 1,407 hours...

within hours
of my calculations.

Less time than this
airplane has flown.
You know the tail group failed?

The tail group wasn't found
with the wreckage.

Every minute that we spend...
but the truth
of the matter is...

That apart from the coincidence
of the crash, all of this
is just your opinion.

Look. Would you feel happier
if we went down together and
had a look at the tail spar?

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

One moment
the tail plane spar will
be perfectly normal,

and the next moment
the whole character
of the metal will change,

and the tail
will break off, captain,
quite suddenly,

and you'll go into a dive
from which you can't recover.

Your only chance, captain,
is to turn back immediately.

You can cut your
inboard engines to break up
the vibration frequency,

land at the first
available airport.

If you don't do it, captain,
this airplane's gonna crash
into the sea.

We're all going to be killed.

I see.

Tell you what I'll do.

I'll radio back a full report
of all you've told me,

and if London tells me
to turn back, I will.

Meanwhile, I'll cut
the inboard motors,
as you suggest.

It'll make us late
at gander, but I'll take
that responsibility.

But I warn you, there
won't be anyone at the airport
to make a decision like that.

At this time of day,
they'll find it very difficult
to find anyone who can.

Very well, captain.
Let's wish ourselves luck.

[ Door closes ]

Well, I've heard a good
many strange things in my life,
but that's way ahead by a mile.

Well, you better
put it on the horn
to London, Peter.

I wouldn't miss unloading
a report like that on the boys
for half my pension.

Right. Well, it'll give them
something to think about anyway.
Here it goes.

London radio from flight 26.

London radio
from flight 26.
Okay, Sam?

Yeah.
London radio
from flight 26. Over.

Hey, Marjorie.
I've got news for you.
Your boffin's crackers.

What's the matter?
Did he ask you some questions
you couldn't answer?

Clean off his rocker.
He says the tail's
gonna fall off.

He didn't.
He did, and with
variations.

Sam thinks you oughta
keep an eye on him
in case he gets violent.

He didn't seem to be like that.

He thinks we ought
to stop it vibrating.
Ruddy little squirt.

I'd like to vibrate him.
Sam says ring through
if you need help.

[ Knocking ]

May I look in here
for just a moment?
Go ahead.

Is there anything
I can do to help?
No.

Thank you very much.

What... what...
what's all that about?

Liked the tour they gave him,
I suppose, so he's having
one of his own.

Coffee, Sam?
No. No, thanks.
Not just now.

I, um, want to get
some cigarettes
from my bag.

Miss teasdale?
Miss teasdale?

Huh?

You don't know me,
but honey's my name.
Theodore honey.

I just couldn't help...
I'd like to talk to you.

Of course.
I'd be very pleased.

I've always...
Mrs. honey and I,
we've always...

I've always felt
I owed you a great deal.

Your pictures meant a lot
to my wife and I...

that's why I want
to talk to you.
You're very kind.

It's, uh... may I?
Certainly.

It... it's about the condition
of this airplane.

I'm afraid we're in
very serious danger.

I... I'm rather afraid
the tail may drop off
at any moment.

Now, when that happens,
there may be...
is that so?

Yes. When that happens,
there may be a little time,

so go to the men's room
and sit on the floor.

The partition is very rigid
because the stove is bolted
to the floor on the other side.

Now, if you survive
the first impact,

try to get out
of the escape hatch
and get to a life raft.

They may pick you up
when they search for us
in the morning.

That's certainly
very interesting.

Go to the men's room.
Yes.

Sit on the floor.

[ Bell beeps ]

Oh, no.

According to
these calculations...
look, Mr. honey.

I'm afraid miss teasdale's
very tired. We really ought
to let her rest for a while.

Yes, I'm a little tired,
but thank you very much,
Mr. honey.

Please, Mr. honey.
I'm sorry. I was only
trying to help.

I'm sure you were.
Some other time perhaps.

[ Sighs ]

You shouldn't have
done that, Mr. honey.
It's quite clear I shouldn't.

I'm sure you don't
want to alarm people. You
might even cause a panic.

You won't do it again,
will you?
No, no. I won't do it again.

I know you're very worried.
Isn't there anything I can do?

You know all about this,
don't you?
Yes.

The pilot had to tell me.
You've been very kind to me.
I'm sorry I made trouble.

Oh, no, Mr. honey.
You really didn't make any
trouble. It's only that...

I think I'd like to tell you
what I was trying to tell
miss teasdale.

Well, do,
if it'll make you
feel any better.

Well, I think
I know more about this than
either you or the captain.

I think I know
what's going to happen.

If it does, at this altitude,
there'll be less than three
minutes before we hit the water.

Now, there's one place
in this airplane...

Where a person would have
a chance to survive that impact.

Come with me.

Now, at the first
sign of trouble,
go in here...

And sit on the floor
with your back
against the partition.

See, this parti...
here, I'll show you.

This partition is very rigid,
because the stove here
is bolted to the floor.

I've tried to tell miss teasdale
that, because I felt that
I owed her something.

But now I want you to know.
I won't talk to anybody else.

It's good of you
to have told me
all this, Mr. honey.

No one's worried
about me like that
for quite a while.

Yes, but you will
remember what I told you
when it happens.

I'll certainly remember.
I can't promise to do it.

I'm one of the crew,
and there are quite a few things
to do if anything happened.

But thank you
just the same.
Do it if you can, though.

I think we're going to
be all right, Mr. honey.
No.

But in any event,
there's nothing
we can do about it.

It's kind of you
to worry about me,
but please don't.

Why don't you try and
get some rest instead?

Yes, I'll try.

I think that crisis is over now,
miss teasdale. I don't think
it'll happen again.

What's the matter with
that little man?

I think he was just trying to
do something for you. I'm afraid
he's got some odd ideas.

[ Chuckles ] He certainly has.
He told me to sit on the floor
in the men's room.

If that isn't an odd idea,
I'd like to meet one.

I think he was trying to
tell you the best place to be
if there was an accident.

Is that what I ought to do?
I think he's right about it
being the safest place.

But if he's right about that,
he may be right about
the tail falling off.

Who is he?
Just one of the passengers.
Some kind of scientist, I think.

You know,
they don't often track.
Oh.

The altitude, miss teasdale,
sometimes causes a nervous
state in certain passengers.

I'm sure that it had that effect
on Mr. honey for a while.
But he's quiet now.

That's more than I am. There's
about to be another passenger on
this plane in a nervous state.

I assure you, there's nothing
to be alarmed about.
Captain Samuelson's...

listen, dear. The scientist says
this plane is going to crash.
The captain says it isn't.

Your vote doesn't count,
because you have to string along
with the captain.

- That leaves it a tie.
- [ Clunking, sputtering ]

What's that?
He seems to
be saving fuel.

I imagine...
he wouldn't do that
without a reason.

I thought you said
he didn't believe it.
All I meant...

just a minute. If I am going
to meet my maker, I would
like to know about it.

I'll tell you what you can do.
You can get a cup of coffee.
Bring it to me over there.

No, miss teasdale,
I've just got him quiet,
please.

Right now
I don't want him quiet.

There are lots of things
I want him to talk about.
I wouldn't...

now just go and get the coffee.

Mr. honey, I was only half
awake. And I only half heard
what you were trying to tell me.

May I sit down
for a minute?
Yes, certainly.

Thank you.

Would you like
a cigarette?
No, thank you.

Now, she tells me
you're a scientist.
You care for a lozenge?

Lozenge?
No, thank you.

Right. Will do.
Listening out.

Airport said they can't make
any decision about turning back,

and they've never heard
of any trouble with the tail.

They'll try and contact
someone at a higher level
at the airline or ministry,

but it may take some time.

Till then they want you
to use your own judgment.

They also want us
to keep an eye out
for a small boat.

Some crackpot trying to sail
the Atlantic single-handed.
Fine.

He may be in trouble.
Mm-hmm.

Well, if we see him,
we'll stop and ask him
what we ought to do about it.

All right, now, I estimate
it would require a speed
of 420 Miles an hour...

To bring the forces
into equilibrium.

This could be attained by
a downward flight path of seven
degrees below the horizontal.

That angle would keep us
from plunging straight in,

although,
at that speed, the impact
would be rather severe.

See?
I see.

I don't see at all, of course.

But I do understand that
when you think something out,
you don't stop halfway, do you?

But the pilot...
he should understand you.
Why doesn't he turn back?

Well, it was rather difficult
for the pilot.

You see, I imagine that all this
may sound a little improbable
if you haven't studied it.

Would it help
if I would
talk to him?

No. No, I don't think so.
I think we're quite near to
the point of no return anyway.

The point of no return?
That's where it's as short
to go on as it is to turn back.

Oh. I thought you meant
something else.

Miss teasdale,
would you like your coffee
in your own seat?

No, put it over here.
Oh, as a matter of fact,
let's go back there...

where we won't wake anybody
no matter how much we talk.

Where I can say my prayers
if I feel like it.
All right?

Yes, miss teasdale.
Good. We can all stop worrying
who's going to sit where.

Come on, Mr. honey.

That's it.
Halfway, just.

Okay.

Oh, Peter.
Yes, sir?

If they call you again,
tell them to tell
the high-ups...

They needn't bother
making a decision
about turning back.

All right, sir.
Next stop, gander.

Right.

I had a canary once,
didn't have any tail.

It flew all right.

Funny.

I would have thought I'd feel
quite differently being right up
against it like this.

My mind is going twice as fast,

as though it were trying to
catch up with all the thinking
it didn't get around to.

All those people there...

makes you wonder...
Which one you would pick out
to save if you were God...

And which one
wouldn't matter much.

What are you thinking?
Oh, I don't know.

I never thought much
about things like that.

No. You didn't
have much time.

You were so busy with
your multiplication table.

But you had a chance
to play God
for a little while.

Why did you pick me out
when you decided
to save someone?

Oh, but you ought to live.

I mean, the work you do,
you should keep on doing it.

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

A few cans of celluloid
in a junk heap someday.

Has been fun,
but that's about all.

No, the work you do...
if you could have finished that,

all these people and lots more
wouldn't be in the spot
they're in right now.

That's the kind of work
that should be finished.

No. I think
I'd pick you.

Well, that's very nice
of you to say that,
miss teasdale,

but I think
it'll be all right
about the work.

The work will get done.
I think it'll be all right
about me.

Haven't you any family?
Yes, I have elspeth.
That's my little girl.

Oh, you have a little girl?
Yeah.

That's worth a lot
to come back to.

Oh, yes.
Well, I didn't mean that
I wouldn't like to.

We're really very fond
of one another.

What I...
what I mea...
I-I...

I've been
thinking about that.
And I... she's 12 now.

Her character's formed,
I think.

Mary did that mostly.
She... that's my wife.

I-I wish it didn't
have to be like that,
but I...

she's developed to
such a point, I-I... I think
she's gonna be all right.

Of course, I-I've been able
to help in a lot of things.

She's much more
soundly developed
than most children her age.

Really has
a remarkable grasp
of crystallography.

Well, that's very good,
of course. What is it?

It's quite fundamental.
It's always been odd to me
that schools don't teach it.

No I-I've really had to help her
in almost everything
she knows worth knowing.

Has she got a compact?
A-a what?

A compact.
Oh, a compact.

I don't know. Why?
Never mind.

[ Clinking ]

That isn't it?
Mm-mmm. No.

Some more minutes,
and each one is like
kind of a present, isn't it?

[ Sighs ] Hmm.

You know what I was
thinking about just then?

All the people
who'll come to my funeral.

That'll be quite an occasion.

Do you have a family,
miss teasdale?
No.

Not even a husband
at the moment.

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

He had five more years
to go at 10%.

And then there's loreen Colvin.
Oh, she'll cry the most.

She'll give
a beautiful performance,

and then she'll try to get
the part in the picture
I was going to make.

I suppose that's why I don't
feel the way I thought I would.

I would have stopped working
quite a while ago...

If I could have figured out
what to do with myself.

I was married three times,
but it never came to anything.

I wouldn't be surprised
if it was all my fault.

Maybe Providence is trying
to tell me something.

Maybe it took a first-class
high dive into the middle
of the Atlantic to make me quit.

But maybe I'd rather
it ended with a big splash.

No, no.
You've made people happy
you don't even know about.

Like my wife, Mary.

She took me to see one of
your pictures that last night
before the bomb came.

She talked about it
a lot when we got home.

You made that last night
very happy for her.

That's worth doing,
miss teasdale.

You know, when we used to
go to pictures,

we used to
walk right out on 'em
when Mary didn't like them.

We never walked out
on one of your pictures.

Mr. honey,
this is not exactly...

The best compliment
I've ever had.

Maybe it's the nicest.
That's why I had to
tell you what I did.

I have to do
everything I can for you.

You mean it too, don't you?

You scientists are always
so busy figuring out
new things.

Why don't you figure out
a mascara that won't run?

Oh, well, I'm afraid
that's a little
out of my field.

Oh, I'll be as good as new
in a minute.

Thanks for holding my hand.

[ Sniffling ]

I wouldn't mind
seeing something.
I don't care very much what.

Newfoundland ought to be
around here somewhere,
if I haven't added wrong.

How late are we?
An hour and 28 minutes.

Well, it's about time
I got them on their feet,
isn't it?

Leave 'em alone.
This stuff's got
gander airfield closed in.

We may have to sit up here
till it breaks.

Oh, fine.

Want some coffee?
[ Sharply ]
No.

We'll start
the inboard motors to land.

Hank, go and feather
two and three.
Yes, sir.

How long?
Oh, about half an hour.

I'll get them cracking
back there.

Oh, I'll take that
coffee now. Thanks.

Right.
Take it, Sam.

Call gander tower.
Tell them I want
the runway cleared.

Tell them I'm coming straight in
on a direct approach.
Okay.

They're asking for
an emergency landing.
What's up?

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

Better phone a.O.A.
Flight 52 and tell them
to keep circling.

I'll look after things
down here.

[ Chattering ]
Good. Hello.

Miss teasdale?

Miss teasdale,
we land in 20 minutes.

Would you like
some coffee?
Twenty minutes?

We're that close?

We're still
all in one piece.
Yes, it's a lovely, clear night.

So it is.
The stars are out.

I'll go back to my seat.

Would you like some coffee,
Mr. honey?
No, thank you.

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

I'm sorry you had to be
so worried, but I think
we're quite all right now.

We're all very lucky.

You'll go back to your seat
and fasten your safety belt
for the landing, won't you?

Yes.

Gear down.
Gear down, sir. Watch the
undercarriage switch, sir.

Safety locks are out.

Full flaps.
Full flaps, sir.

[ Tires squeal ]

Reverse pitch.

Looks all right to me.
I don't know what he was
in such a hurry about.

[ Exhales forcefully ]
Right, sir.

[ Chattering ]

Quite a night, Mr. honey.

I guess you must have
multiplied someplace where
you should have divided.

Miss teasdale.
How long do we stay here?

[ Marjorie ]
About an hour, I think, sir.
Thank you.

Yes, we can.
Right there.
Thank you.

[ Engine rumbling in distance ]

Mr. honey,
will you come with me,
please?

Will you come too, miss corder?

Well, what
was the trouble?
Any news for me from London?

No, not a thing.
No, that'd make it
too easy.

Where's the a.R.B. Inspector?
Well, he's probably
asleep.

Get him up. I want that aircraft
inspected as no aircraft's
been inspected in history,

every ruddy inch of her,
down to the last rivet.

Dobson, break it to
the passengers there's
going to be a delay.

Aye, aye, sir.
Miss corder?
Sir?

If, as I expect,
this inspection is satisfactory
and we take off,

I'm taking responsibility
for refusing to carry Mr. honey
on the flight,

as I consider his presence
an unnecessary hazard.

I'll arrange that
all other flights
leaving this airfield...

Are adequately
informed about him
before they carry him.

It's your responsibility
to see he doesn't get in touch
with any of the passengers.

I don't want them alarmed
by what, in my opinion, are
groundless, unnecessary fears.

Got that?
Yes, sir.

Right. Let's go.

Well, I feel rather
like a policewoman.
Don't like it very much.

Well, I don't want to make
any more trouble for you,
miss corder.

Where do you want me to go?
I know an office.

Come on. Let's try and
make it the nicest arrest
that's ever happened.

[ Chattering ]
Are we going to leave on time?
We're late already, you know.

There'll be a short delay.
The captain wants an inspection,
that's all.

It won't take long.
Mr. honey...

they say it'll be
two hours, it means
it'll be three hours.

Just once...
I'd like to tell somebody
what this is going to cost me.

Some coffee, please.
The one I liked best was the one
where you killed your husband.

I thought
that was smashing.
Yes, I liked that too.

Well, that's nice
and comfortable.

I'll bring you
something to eat, if you like.
Bacon and eggs all right?

Yes, that'd be very nice.

I think it's better that
you stay here, Mr. honey.

Some of the passengers
get very upset about delays.

They might find out
it was you and say things
they didn't really mean.

Well, I'll do anything
you say, miss corder.
Good. I'll be back in no time.

Sorry.

[ Engine rumbling in distance ]

[ Chattering ]

I brought your bag in
from the plane. You really do
travel light, don't you?

Do you think
the captain's going on?

I suppose so, unless
they find something wrong.

Now come on, while it's hot.
But they won't find
anything wrong.

I told him that.
I wish people didn't think
they knew everything.

You mean, you really believe
it's going to crash whether
they find anything or not?

Yes, yes.
I do believe that.

Well, I've told him.
He'll have to make
his own decision now.

Just one thing
I'd like to get clear.
How sure are you about this?

You said
it was going to happen
last night, and it didn't.

And you said you really
didn't have any proof.
Well, I-I'm quite sure.

I've worked it out through
three different channels,
and the results all agree.

Of course, I won't know
until the evidence of my test.

But I-I-I suppose
if the captain goes ahead,
that miss teasdale will go too.

I expect she will.

I-I-I think she believed me
for a little time last night.

Then I...
then I don't think she did.

You know, it would be nice
if you and captain Samuelson
could argue this out...

And get together on whether
it's going to fall apart or not.

This is getting cold.
That plane in labrador,
that was proof in a way.

I suppose there was
a stewardess on that one too.

Yes. Yes,
I knew them both
very well.

Couldn't you believe me,
miss corder?

You've been so very kind,
and you...

you ought to live
and get married
and bring up a family.

You'd be very good at that.

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

You said that
just about as nicely
as anybody could.

You know, I'd almost
not go if it would help
you stop worrying,

but it's my job,
and there's no way
of making sure,

and I don't think
it's right to walk out
on something like that.

Do you know what I mean?

I think everything
will be all right if
captain Samuelson says so.

He knows a great deal
about aircraft.

Now why don't you
eat that up? It'll
make you feel better.

All right?

[ Man ]
Attention, please.
Passengers, reindeer flight 26.

Please be ready to board
your plane in 20 minutes
for the flight to Montreal.

Flight 26, please
be ready to board your plane
in 20 minutes for Montreal.

Well, I'd better be going.

I won't lock you in,
if you promise not to speak
to any of the passengers.

I won't.
Well, good-bye, Mr. honey.

We'll see you in Montreal.
And please, don't worry.

[ Engine rumbling in distance ]

[ Samuelson ]
No danger, of course,
once we're in the air.

[ Man ] That's okay. Keep a man
standing by the lever here
on both taking off and landing,

so nobody catches a coat
on it or anything.
Right. I'll see to that.

- What are you doing here?
- Captain, I-I just have to...

well, now that you're here,
I want you to listen.

I've told the inspector here
all that you told me.

Now, if you've anything to add,
I want to hear it now,
and I want him to hear it.

No, sir. I-I don't...
I don't have anything to add.

As London doesn't take your
opinion sufficiently seriously
to order this aircraft grounded,

I'm flying her on to Montreal.

And I want you to get off
and stay off.

Captain, you mustn't
take off in this airplane.
You can't do it.

Believe me, mathematics is
a very exact science.

You explained that already.
Captain, it'll be just like
the one in labrador.

The stewardess,
all these people...
you said that the last time.

Leave that alone, you fool!

- [ Whirring ]
- Cut the prop!

- [ Murmuring ]
- [ Alarm bell ringing ]

[ Sirens wailing ]

[ Bell stops ] [ Sirens fade ]

That swine.
He wanted it wrecked.
That inhuman swine!

Cut that out!
What'd you
let him loose for?

Better take him out of this
before the passengers find out
he did it.

You'd better come with me,
Mr. honey.

It just folded up.
It just folded right up
and sat down.

Oh, there'll really be a delay
for everybody now, won't there?

I don't think there's
any doubt about that.
Tell me why...

he did do it,
didn't he?
Yes, I'm afraid he did.

If you believe in something,
you believe in doing something
about it, don't you?

Well, they wouldn't listen
to me and the lever was right
there, so I just... pulled it.

That's sticking your neck out
pretty far, if you just thought
it was going to crash.

I tried to get them to
ground the airplane.
They wouldn't listen to me.

The lever was just right
there. So I just...

you just pulled it.
Don't those things cost
an awful lot of money?

A tremendous amount of money!
Oh, this is going to cause
a great deal of trouble, but...

I should think it might.
I-I don't know
what they're going to do.

I've never had any experience
with anything like this before.

I should think nobody has.
I think this is a kind of
a world's record.

You didn't do that one
for yourself either,
did you?

You could have been sitting
right here on the ground
when we took off.

Looks to me like this
was the men's room deal
multiplied by quite a lot.

Look, you keep him here.
Some of the passengers won't
be too pleased about all this.

I'd like to find out
what the payoff's going to be.

Come to think of it,
I think I ought to.

Well, it's very nice of you
not to be angry
about the delay.

Oh, it's worth it.
You don't meet
a world record every day.

Well, I don't know whether
to be glad or sorry
I didn't lock the door.

It never occurred to me
you'd do anything like that.

Well, it never occurred
to me either! I suppose
the airline will be very angry.

That, I'm afraid,
is probably quite
an understatement.

I can't imagine
what the establishment
will think.

I suppose I'd better
let them know
what I've done.

I imagine
they'll hear about it.
Uh-huh.

Man kills airplane.
There's apt to be quite a lot
in the papers about that.

Oh, dear.
Well, elspeth'll
find out about it.

I can't imagine
what she'll think either.

Look, Mr. honey,
we'll probably be sent back
to London for reassignment...

After they've sent another plane
to pick up the passengers.

Would it help if
I went to see your little girl
and told her you were all right?

Would you do that for me?
There's no telling
what she'll hear, is there?

Well, whatever she hears,
I imagine she'll understand.

Well, I wish I did.
[ Chuckles ]

[ Chattering ]

[ Airplane whirring
in distance ]

[ Chuckling ]
I would suggest that
it is the solemn duty...

For anyone who can find anything
remotely humorous in all this...

To share it with those of us
who are less fortunate.

Why, I couldn't help it, sir.
Old honey dropping a reindeer
right on its belly.

It's very funny.
I see your point,

but I can't precisely
enjoy it at the moment.

I don't remember another day
like it. Half england's been
on the telephone to me today.

I think if one more person,
friend or enemy,

calls to ask if I've heard
that our Mr. honey has wrecked
an aircraft at gander...

By pulling up
the undercart, I'll...
[ Sighs ]

We'd better sort
some kind of order
out of all this.

The chairman of the airline,
sir David moon,
calling you, sir.

I thought I said
I'd take no more calls today.

He said I was to take
the telephone to you
no matter where you were.

All right.
I'll take it.

Hello. Yes, yes.
Put him through.

There are quite a few
other calls, sir.
You surprise me.

Huh, the other half's
getting in fast.

The minister, the a.R.B.,
the treasury, every newspaperman
in the empire.

[ Gruffly ] Hello?

[ Gently ]
Oh, hello.
Hello, sir David.

It's nice to hear from you.
Oh, yes. That I very much heard.

I have no way of knowing what
he could have been thinking of.

We'll get him back for the
inquiry, and then perhaps when
I've talked to him, I could...

oh, I don't think
you could mean that,
sir David.

No, no. I'm not at all prepared
to assume he's a lunatic.
At least, not yet.

Yes, I quite realize that.

But I don't think there's
anything to be gained
by losing our tempers.

I want...
hello? Hello!

Where are the papers?
I thought you'd want
to see them, sir John.

I'm not so sure.

Ah, here we are...
"David and goliath.

Mr. Theodore honey
as David brings down
the reindeer single-handed."

There was one that called him
the galahad of the airways.
This is better.

Sir David's idea, eloquently
put, was there isn't enough
money in the bank of england...

To pay for the damage
done to themselves
and British aviation...

By the implication of
the safety of their aircraft.

He did manage to sandwich in
they wouldn't guarantee
to bring him back,

that he refused to allow
any more of their passengers...

To travel with an irresponsible
madman who went about
wrecking airplanes.

Suggested the r.A.F.
Might carry him. They were
equipped to take risks.

I can lay that on, sir,
if he really means it.

He means it.
We'll have him
back for the inquiry.

- Miss teasdale is here
to see you, sir.
- Teasdale? Who's miss teasdale?

Miss Monica teasdale,
the film star, sir.

What's a film star doing here?
Tell her I'm sorry. I can't...

hand her over to major pearl.
She said she wanted
to see you about Mr. honey.

She crossed on the plane
with him last night.
But how can she be here?

Ask her
to wait two minutes.
I'll see her.

Well, gentlemen,
there's one thing we can settle.

You must send someone else
off to labrador.

We mustn't show up at that
inquiry without supporting
evidence of some kind.

But for heaven's sake,
send someone who can keep his
mind on what he's trying to do.

No more boffins.

[ Accent ] It is my opinion,
sir John, that even this trouble
should not lead us...

To saying that all scientists
are foolish men and
not to be trusted.

From what department did
the gentleman come who took
a bath in the public fountain...

And subsequently conceived
the brilliant idea of
pinching girls in the park?

I ask you to remember,
sir John,

that the last time
we decide not ever
to mention this incident again.

All right. All right.
I think that's all for today,
gentlemen,

except for finding out
what film stars have to do
with all this.

Johnson?
Yes?

Ask miss teasdale to come in.
Very good, sir.

Mr. Scott,
I'd like you to stay.
Good day, gentlemen.

Sir John,
I assure you...
good night.

Miss teasdale,
sir John.
How do you do, sir John?

How kind of you
to see me.
Not at all, miss teasdale.

Let me present
Mr. Scott.
How do you do?

You're his boss,
aren't you? I've heard
a great deal about you.

Sit down, please.
Thank you.

Did we hear correctly
that you were on the plane
last night with Mr. honey?

That's right.
Well, I don't understand.
How did you get back here?

There was a plane coming through
headed this way,
and I got on it.

But if you want to know
why I'm here, that would take
a lot longer to tell you.

Did he ask you to give us
any message?
No. He doesn't know I'm here.

If you can give us any idea
of what really happened, we
shall be very grateful indeed.

They were going to take off,
although he told them
they shouldn't.

The lever
was right there.
He just pulled it.

You have never seen such
a commotion in your life.

I guess a thing like that
has never happened before
in the history of the world.

Fortunately, no.
Have you known
Mr. honey long?

No. I just met him last night,
right after we took off.

He came to tell me
that he thought
we were in trouble.

But why should he want to alarm
you when there was nothing
you could do about it?

He thought
there was something
I could do.

He gave me his reasons,
and they were
good enough for me.

Did you believe him?
What did he do?
Explain his theory?

He did. And I believed him.

Did you understand it?
Not a word.

Then I don't understand.

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

I don't know much
about mathematics,

but I know
when a man knows
what he's talking about.

Have you a light?
Oh, of course.

May I smoke?
Certainly.

I don't understand a thing
about his theory,

but I've learned
quite a lot about Mr. honey,

and I know he isn't crazy
like they're saying out there.

That funny little man
is brave and kind
and on the level.

And he believed
what he was telling me.

But even I can see
it's going to be awfully easy...

To settle a lot of things
by throwing him to the wolves,

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

That's why I wanted to meet
the people he worked for...

to see if they're going to
stand by him.

Somebody's got to, you know.

Miss teasdale,
I'd like to
pay you a compliment.

You believe in things too,
and that's very nice to see.
But I have to add this.

I don't know whether
Mr. honey's right or wrong.

Neither does Mr. Scott,
any more than you do.

There's no way of knowing.

But that certainly doesn't mean
we're going to back up
Mr. honey blindly.

There's a matter
called the truth
which has to be served.

It's a difficult thing,
the truth,
in a case like this.

And the most I can promise you
is we'll do our utmost
to get at it.

And we hope it's going to be
on Mr. honey's side.

Well, the truth
is a good deal, anyway.

I don't think there was
much need in my coming,
but I'm glad I did.

Thank you, sir John,
for giving me your time.
Good-bye.

Thank you, miss teasdale.
Good-bye.

I'll see you
to your car.
Thank you.

He means the trouble
is going to be pretty bad.
I'm afraid so.

Isn't there anything
I could do for Mr. honey?

Where can I find his little
girl? I could go there and
tell her that he's all right.

Oh, I think that would be
very nice. I'll tell your driver
where to go.

Oh, please don't bother.
They'll tell me at the gate.
Oh, all right.

Bye, Mr. Scott.
And thank you.
Good-bye, miss teasdale.

[ Chattering ]

Mr. honey!
[ Clamoring ]

[ Voices overlapping ]

[ Machinery roaring ]

Mr. honey?
Of course I know him.
Where have you put him?

He seems rather odd, sir John.
I wasn't sure you wished
to see him.

Sir John, I want to protest
very strongly. Why has my work
been taken out of my hands?

Supposing we go somewhere
where we can chat.

I'm not in the habit of going
around wrecking things.
You ought to know that.

Hold on for a minute,
Mr. honey.
Come this way with me.

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

A friend of yours
has arrived.
Hello, Mr. honey.

Yes.
Come this way, Mr. honey.

So, as far as we're concerned,
there's one decision to be made
and one only.

Whether we should allow
the remaining reindeers
to go on flying.

If they're to be grounded,
that must be done
at half your estimate.

We dare not cut safety
finer than that.

The inquiry has been deferred
until the last possible moment
for making that decision,

which fortunately
gives time enough for your test
to reach the 1,440 mark,

plus some margin of error.

That's why it isn't yours
anymore, or anyone else's.
Too much depends on it.

If your test is a success,
the airline and everyone else
will be very grateful to you.

If it isn't, or we don't
get supporting evidence of
some kind from labrador, then...

and this is
the difficult part, Mr. honey,
so I'll put it bluntly.

Since none of them
believe for a moment
the test will succeed,

they feel it imperative that
they should be prepared...

To issue as effective
and as sweeping a statement
as possible...

To offset the almost ruinous
publicity that reindeers
have received.

That yours was the act
of an irresponsible,
unbalanced mind,

which they believe to be true.

And they want
the supporting opinion of
qualified psychologists.

In other words,
they wish to test you
as well as the tailpiece.

To see if I'm insane?
That's right.

Do you think I'm insane?
I don't think you are,
Mr. honey,

any more than I think
you make a habit of going
about wrecking things.

But there's no way
to know that.

I'd hate to have them
look me over
at the moment.

But just now,
I haven't the right to
take anything for granted.

Please understand this.

I couldn't refuse
without making it look like
a blind defense of my staff.

But you can refuse
if you like.
That's your right.

No, I won't refuse.

Let them pry and poke
if they want to.

Tell them
I'll be in my office
if they want to see me.

What about you,
Mr. Scott?
Do you think I'm ins...

no, there'd be no way
for you to know either,
would there?

- [ Marjorie ]
Who is it?
- Who's that?

Oh, Mr. honey.
Oh, I beg your pardon.

Mr. honey, it's me,
Marjorie corder.

We didn't expect you back
tonight. I stayed with elspeth.
Somebody had to.

Well, that's very kind...
you must be tired.
Have you had anything to eat?

I don't...
you probably didn't.
I'll get you something.

We had lobster for supper.
Do you like cold lobster?
But I can manage.

It keeps me in practice.
Now, why don't you go upstairs
and take a look at elspeth?

Well, did you
notice anything?
Well, she was asleep.

Anything different,
I meant, about the house.

Well, you-you haven't
got your clothes on.

No, in the room.
The curtains.

Curtains? Why...
well, where did this
come from?

Well, that was a present
from miss teasdale.

Miss teasdale? What?
Is she here too?

No, she went to London
for the night.

She got some lovely things
for elspeth's room too.
Why don't you eat your supper?

Well, what did she want to
do a thing like that for?
I think you'd be surprised.

I imagine you were glad
to see farnborough again.

Did you stop by
the laboratory?
Yes, yes. I looked in.

Well, you don't seem
exactly happy about that.
Was there something wrong there?

No, no. Yes, yes,
there was something wrong.

I-I can't expect to get
any work done with people
standing around peering at me.

I-I'm now known as
the galahad of the airways.

Now, I-I-I heard someone saying,
"imagine old honey collecting
a poppy like Monica teasdale."

Well, I expect
they were just
trying to be friendly.

I thought you were rather
a galahad when you told
miss teasdale and me...

What to do
in case there
was an accident.

It's not such
a bad thing to be. Here.
Shall I do that for you?

No, I can manage here.
You know,
it's my fault anyway.

If you do anything wrong,
you have no one to blame
but yourself.

[ Window banging ]

Just what-what
was it that you
thought you did wrong?

You did think
there'd be a crash,
didn't you?

Yes, but what I should have done
is offer my hypothesis to the
captain in an orderly manner...

And let him make
his own decision,
but I didn't do that.

No, when they wouldn't
listen to me,

I kept thinking about you,
lying dead up there in labrador,
like that other stewardess...

And miss teasdale,
and all the rest of them.

I wasn't orderly at all...
not at all... and the lever
was right there so I pulled it.

And that seemed
wrong to you?
Of course it seemed wrong!

How is anybody going to take
my work seriously if I go around
doing things like that?

Do you know that
they're saying I'm crazy now?
And I don't blame them!

You don't mean
that if you had it
all to do again,

you'd just let it
go ahead and crash?

Well, that's just the point.
I'd probably do the same thing
over again.

I'm evidently
quite a weak character,
miss corder.

The mistake I made
was ever leaving farnborough.

If I just hadn't left there,
and if this all dies down,

I swear to you,
I'm never going to leave
my laboratory again.

Well, I think
I'm a little sorry
about that.

I know you have to be
a scientist. I know you have
important work to do.

But you're a person too,
Mr. honey.

Well, it's evidently
quite difficult
to be a person, miss corder.

Yes, I suppose it is, but...
oh, well, never mind.

I expect you know
what you're doing.
I must clear this up.

You'd better get some rest.
You'll need it.

Well, good night,
miss corder.
Good night, Mr. honey.

Well, I better get my things
out of your way.
Things? What...

my clothes and things.
I'll move into
elspeth's room.

Well, uh, why,
you mean you've been staying
in my... oh.

Well, what's the matter?
Well, I was just thinking
of you, miss corder.

Don't you think
people will talk?

[ Chuckles ] Oh, I see.

Well, I'm a nurse,
you know. You have to
be to be a stewardess.

Would it make it any better
if I got hold of
my nurse's uniform...

And put it on
for the neighbors to see?

Well, I suppose
that would be...

well, that's what I'll do then.
I'd like to come back just
to see how things turn out.

Good night,
Mr. honey.
Yes.

[ Clears throat ]

[ Machinery roaring ]

Well!
Who's sick?
No one. I...

we had quite a problem
last night.

Mr. honey arrived back
in the small hours.

He was so old-school
about us both staying here.
It was very sweet really.

And this has to do with
explaining the situation
to the neighbors.

I had to run over
to guildford this morning
to get it.

It looks as if
I missed something by
going up to London last night.

Where is he? I suppose he
couldn't wait to get down
to farnborough this morning...

To see his playthings again.
Well, that's exactly
what happened.

I'd like to hear about it.
Some coffee left?

Why don't you
come in there?
Why, what's the matter with...

oh, you've been busy.
I had nothing else to do.

It looks as though
he wears one suit and
goes to sleep in the other.

I don't know how long
it can be since he bought
something for himself.

I thought you were the one
who thought a man shouldn't
have things done for him.

That goes for his character,
but not necessarily
his trousers.

That's very domestic.
You're full of surprises.

Tell me something.
I've been thinking
about it.

How would you go about
getting him to make it
under his own steam?

That's what you were
holding out for,
as I remember it.

I don't think that part of it
is really any of my business.

It's just that...
I don't know.
We talked a lot last night,

and he seemed like a little boy
who's had his first fight
and got hurt.

And so he says,
"I'll never fight again."

Well, he can't keep on
running back to his laboratory.

That's all right
for the scientist,
but not for him.

He will get into trouble
if he does that now.

And I don't think
he can make himself
do it, really.

I think he's better than that.

You must have talked
quite a bit.

Funny that a kid like you
would bother to see so much
in anybody like him.

It's not so funny, really.
You get around,
being a stewardess.

That doesn't cover it.

You've been married,
or a lot in love sometime
or other, haven't you?

I don't think that has
anything to do with it.
What was it?

Oh, you've heard it before.
He was shot down over arnheim.
We'd been married a month.

Sure, that says it.
Maybe it says even more
than you think it does.

Well, this'll take
some thinking about.

And I'll have time for that.
I'm leaving for
California tonight.

There was a flock of cables
at the Dorchester
when I got there.

The studio wants to get going.

This is a little sudden,
isn't it? What about
all the things you talked about?

Helping him
to find an answer
and everything?

I meant it.
Don't think I didn't.
And I still do.

Maybe it would have been
the best chance
I'll ever have...

To be a lot of things
I'd like to be.

Only I suppose you can't
do a thing like that
just a little bit...

mixing into other
people's lives, I mean.

You can start something
maybe you can't finish.

What got me was his being
so anxious to save me
for posterity.

I've never had
anything do my self-esteem
so much good.

So, I'd better go back
and give posterity
another break.

It won't hurt to wait a while
and see how things work out.

That box in there
is a dress for elspeth.

I saw it in a window,
and it just yelled
to belong to her.

Tell her I'll write, will you?
Aren't you going to wait
and see them?

No, I don't think so.
I might weaken.

Hello, miss teasdale.
Look who's here.
Sugar plum.

Hello, miss corder.
I hurried. I-I hoped
you'd be back.

Well, here I am.
Don't you look pretty?
Am I really all right?

I've never seen
an apple blossom
look quite as sweet.

Here's a present
for you, honey.

Oh, I really shouldn't
have another one.
May I look?

Of course.

Why don't you take it
up to your room
and look at it there?

That'll be nicer.
All right, I will.

It's... it's like Christmas,
only much more so.

[ Footsteps continue ]
[ Door closes ]

Well.

Does that mean
good-bye then?
Sure.

There's no use
making anything of it.

That's one thing you learn
in my business...
how to get off.

I wish you wouldn't go.
Maybe I'll be back.
Never can tell.

You're a nice kid,
Marjorie. I have an idea
you know what's going on.

You might let me know. I'll
get the price on a laboratory
or two, just in case.

Well, good luck.

Keep on telling her
she's pretty, will you?

I will, Monica.
Right.

[ Machinery roaring ]

Honey, I...

it sounds
discouragingly healthy to me.
What's your zero hour exactly?

2:00 this afternoon.
Let me know the minute
it even shivers.

[ Machinery roaring ]

Well, it hasn't got
much longer. The day of
inquiry has just begun.

Oh, I-I'm afraid
I'd forgotten
you were here.

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

Well, I let elspeth
stay down for a while.
What happened?

Nothing. Nothing
happened at all.

My figures clearly said
the tail should fall off,
and the tail didn't fall off.

I-I-it's seven percent
above my figure.
I-it didn't fall off.

Oh, I'm sorry.
Well, what happens now?

Well, I-I-I've been thinking
about that on the way home.

I'll go to the inquiry,

and I'll stand up,
and I'll explain my figures to
a group of very angry men,

and then they'll reject
the whole thing.

Then I'll sit down.

I'll sit down and listen to them
say that I'm insane
because of what I did in gander.

And perhaps I am.
I-I'm not sure, you know.

A qualified psychiatrist
will testify to that.

I talked to three of them
this afternoon. They...

no, that was yesterday,
wasn't it?

But they showed me a page
of ink blots and asked me...

If it reminded me
of elephants or tigers.

Well, I... it didn't
remind me of elephants or ti...
it was just ink blots.

I-I-I think that the truth
is only that I-I've made
a mistake somewhere in my work.

I-I don't know where it is,
but I have to have time to
find out where the mistake is.

But there won't be any time.

And my work'll be
thrown out in anger,

and a principle that might've
had one grain of truth in it
will be lost.

But I'll sit there.
I'll sit there,
and I won't say a word.

And then what?

Well, there's other work
to be done,

and I'll get back
to doing it somewhere. I...

with everything just as it was?

Yes. I'm rather
glad it's over.

But you can't do that.

You can't just
sit there
and say nothing.

If you believe something is
right, you have to do it if
you want to live with yourself.

If you don't, you'll have to
pay for it sooner or later,
and so will elspeth.

What about elspeth?
Everything is just to be
as it was for her too?

Yes, she was very glad
to have it that way.
She was very happy.

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

Well, I'm sorry.
It's the wrong time
to talk.

There isn't
very much point either.

It's my last day, you know.
But I'd rather say good-bye
when you come back.

I start my job again tomorrow.

Funny if they put me
back on reindeers.

That really would be
gander all over again,
wouldn't it?

No, but you wouldn't do that?

Supposing I did.
Would you let me?

Hello.

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

Yes. Did the tail
fall off, father?

No, dear, it didn't.

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

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

Is anything the matter?
No. I was just thinking.

What about?

Nothing. Just about
the impermanence of events
and things like that.

What do you mean, dear?

Well, about it's
all being over.

Miss teasdale's gone,
and miss corder will be,

and the people out in front...

And everybody wanting to
talk to me at school...

that sort of thing
isn't very permanent,
is it?

It's-it's like Christmas...
everybody very nice to everybody
else for a little while,

but then it doesn't last.

Why is that, father?

Oh, I don't know, dear.

Don't they talk to you
all the time in school?

Oh, no.
I'm a swot, you know.

Oh, I didn't know
you were a swot.
What is a swot?

Well, a swot is rather
the sort of person...

People don't talk to
very much because
they're different.

Like my intellectual
quotient being too high.

Well, do you mind being a swot?

Oh, no.
But it was exciting,
rather not being.

Everybody wanting me
to get them autographs
and things.

But if things like that
are so impermanent,
like Christmas,

then it would be
much better if...

I was thinking.

I put away the things
miss teasdale gave me.

And I was thinking
maybe if I didn't go
to school anymore,

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

because there wouldn't
be other things
to think about and...

Things being
impermanent and...
[ Sobs ]

Dear, what?
Well, you mustn't do that.
What-what's the matter, dear?

Go away!

[ Sobbing ]

Well, are you sick, dear?

[ Sobbing ] I'm all right.

Please go away
and leave me alone.

[ Sobbing continues ]

I insist that to
ground the reindeer fleet
even for 24 hours...

Would be a tacit admission of
the charge that we have been
flying unsafe aircraft.

And I refuse to deal
such a deathblow to British
transatlantic aviation...

On what is now the unsupported
opinion of Mr. Theodore honey.

I'd suggest that
the kindest thing that can
be said of Mr. honey...

Is that his
is an unstable mind...

With an obsession that can
carry him to great extremes,
as we have well seen in gander.

I submit it is not only fair,
but imperative,

that an immediate finding
to that effect be issued
by this board.

Well, gentlemen,
my view is that I...

Mr. chairman,
I would like to try...

now, wait a minute,
Mr.... Mr. chairman.
I'm going to say something.

Now it isn't hard to see
what you're going to decide,
and you can't do that.

Now you're talking about me
because of what I did in gander.
And this isn't personal.

I didn't invent the mathematics
that made me believe what I did.

And I still believe that
there's truth in my work...
test or no test.

When you believe in something,
that's what you've got to do,
isn't it?

If you want to live
with yourself.

Now I don't know what
I'm going to do about this.

I thought I might write
the timessa letter. I don't
think they'd understand either.

So, the first thing
I'm going to do is to resign
right here and now...

So the establishment
won't be mixed up in it.

And then, every time
a reindeer is going to take off
that shouldn't,

I'm going out there
and wreck it.

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

but they wrote a lot about me
when I wrecked that one
in gander.

They'll write more about me
here. And people just won't
get on those airplanes.

And I'm going to
tell you something else.

The minute anything
does happen to
one of these reindeers,

you're going to have to think
of something better to say...

Than anything
I've heard here
this afternoon.

That's all.

Good day.
That's all.

[ Murmuring ]
[ Man ]
Well, gentlemen...

good afternoon.

You know,
there was some Sherry
around here someplace.

I rather thought I'd have some.

Uh, it's over by
that bookcase over there.

Oh.

Is it over?
Yes, yes, it's over.

I didn't stay for the end.
I made a speech,
and then I left.

What about?
Oh, a whole lot of things.
Pretty good speech too.

So you couldn't just
sit there, then?
No.

Are there any glasses?
Oh, here are some. No.

I, uh... I resigned.

You didn't.
Well, I couldn't just
sit there, could I?

Well, what-what are you
going to do to live on?

There's elspeth.
Have you got any money
at all, Mr. honey?

Well, I don't know
how much, but...
where's your book?

Book?
Well, it's right there.

Do you know
how much money
you have to live on?

No.
Three pounds,
13 and 6.

No, wait.
You haven't put anything
in the bank for months.

What do you do with your money?

I-I think there's some
over here in one of these.

There. Here's some.

Here's some more here.

March, January.
Two, three, seven months!

You haven't put anything
into the bank for seven months.

You have lots of money.

I shouldn't have worried,
should I?

You don't need anyone.
[ Sobbing ]
Yeah, well...

yes, you do.
What's the matter?
You're not going to cry?

I can't go away and leave you
and go back to work.
It isn't safe.

You've got to have
somebody looking after you.

I'm going to marry you
and-and live here,

whether you have a job or not.

[ Sobbing ]
Well... you...

thank you.

Yes, and he'll
probably do it too.
We'd better go see him before...

your secretary
sent this over, sir John.

She tried you
at the meeting, but they
wouldn't put her through.

She said
it was very urgent.
Why, thank you.

Where is sir David moon?
I hope he hasn't left.

I can't wait for this.
It's from Nixon in labrador.

He says they found the tail
spar, and it's a fatigue
fracture if ever he saw one.

Sir John, I've had the most
incredible piece of information.
You haven't heard mine.

They've just made the first test
flight on our plane at gander
after it was repaired.

It made a perfect landing
on the airport,

and the tail collapsed
while it was taxiing
to the hangar.

I could hardly believe it,
and I...
perhaps this will help you.

[ Machinery roaring ]

We've received two messages
from labrador and gander
which bear you out completely.

Oh?
Well, that's good.

You-you know, I can't see
where I could have
gone wrong in this.

I've worked it out through
three different channels.
Didn't you hear me?

[ Crashing ]

Ah, temperature.
Temperature!

That's it. That's
a variable factor,
isn't it?

If that plane in gander
had been flying
in the tropics...

this test is in a heated shed.

It would have collapsed
on schedule if I'd lowered
the temperature 40 degrees.