The Wings of Eagles (1957) Movie Script

(male narrator)

I guess down at Pensacola

they still talk about the day

of the Admiral's tea party.

It was one of what came

to be called

"Spig's Big Days."

Spig Wead and I

were in Annapolis

and World War I together.

But all along,

Spig knew he wanted to fly

and I knew I wanted

whatever Spig wanted.

So we wangled our way

into the first regular

flying class the Navy ever had.

Not bad, not bad, not bad.

Question, Mr. Dexter.

The same question,

Mr. Wead?

- The same question, sir.

- Same answer, Mr. Wead.

I suspected

as much, sir.

What was the answer,

Mr. Wead?

We are not to engage

in solo flight

until our instructor feels

we are ready, sir.

And the reason,

Mr. Wead?

Planes and funerals

are expensive.

They cost the taxpayers

money, sir.

Attention. I shall see you

at the Admiral's tea party.

Dismissed.

Come on,

let's go.

Spig, will you quit

riling him?

Hey, Price.

[band music]

Hey, can these things

really fly?

Where did you fellas

leave your motorcycles?

Mac, there's no smoking

on the base.

- What about you?

- Cigars only.

How do you like that? What's

the Army doing around my plane?

Who cares what

the Army's doing, Spig?

Min told us 3 o'clock. She's

waiting. The Admiral's tea?

Hey, you!

You wanna buy her?

This pile of junk? Can anybody

get it up in the air?

Why don't you just

hop right up in there with me

and we'll find out?

Now, why don't we

just do that?

Trip over your spurs?

Put your foot here. One foot

there. Back over here now.

- Spig, you idiot!

- 'Jughead, let's go.'

- Go where?

- Taking the Army for a ride.

You're taking the Army

for a ride?

- Just like that?

- Just like that.

You've never been at the

controls by yourself before.

Right now, this minute, you owe

six payments on your furniture

three on your Stutz Bearcat,

two on your baby.

Know what happens if anything

goes wrong? A court-martial.

They'll kick you out and I'll

wind up a second-class seaman

the rest of my life,

like this dope here.

- Think of the future, Mr--

- Shut up, Pincus.

Spig Wead,

never listen to anybody else.

Just do exactly what

you wanna do all the time.

Alright, you wanna fly

that thing? Go ahead.

Kill yourself. You'll wind up

busted and broke.

I can always

join the Army.

Why don't you be quiet

just once in a while?

Mr. Wead wants to fly,

didn't you hear him?

Get a line. Hurry up.

Get a move on.

- Ready, Army?

- Ready, Navy.

[whirring]

Crazy idiot, Spig!

No, don't do it!

(male #1)

'Spig, don't!'

Alright, Johnny. Where is he?

I told him 3 o'clock.

Did I have to specify what day?

Who's that idiot?

That's Spig, honey.

Spig?

Hey! Hey, how much time

have you had?

- About 11 seconds.

- What?

Eleven seconds.

The Admiral's tea party

was this afternoon.

I couldn't help it.

I tried to tell him.

(Johnny)

I did everything I--

(Johnny)

I did everything I could!

- Get that crash boat.

- Yes, sir.

Let's go. Now.

Come on. Let's go.

Let's go.

Put it down, down, down.

Hey, there's my crew.

Let's buzz 'em.

Oh, no!

Come here!

Look it there.

Hey, lookie there.

Hey yo!

[train chugging]

Hey, did you ever fly

through a hangar?

No. Oh, no. Oh, come on,

fella. No, no!

Neither have I.

That's my wife.

I'm sorry, ma'am.

I did everything I could.

- Hey, let me have the stick.

- What?

The stick.

I'm taking over.

No!

- What's the matter?

- We're out of gas.

Well, set her down,

you idiot!

Watch this landing.

No, on the water!

On the water!

Hang on.

Spig!

You alright, sir?

Sorry, shorty,

I missed it.

You alright, Spig? Give him

a hand. Get him out of here.

Are you alright?

Spig!

Afraid? So am I.

Pardon me, ma'am.

Please? Please.

Wead...the Admiral

would like to see you

in his quarters immediately.

Yes, sir.

Won't be home

for dinner, hon.

Good! I hope they throw

the book at you, page by page!

I hope they throw you--

- Captain Hazard?

- Yes.

General Ricketts'

compliments, sir.

He would like

to see you at once.

- 'That's all you got to say?'

- Yes, sir.

- 'Nothing more to add?'

- No, sir.

- 'Whole truth and nothing but?'

- Yes, sir.

Carson...do you know

that you're the biggest liar

in the United States Navy?

Yes, uh, no, s..

Yes, sir.

That's all.

Thank you, sir.

(male #2)

'Mr. Wead.'

- Attention.

- Carry on, gentlemen. Carry on.

Mr. Wead, from Annapolis

with your commendation

for war duty

this is a record

that any officer might envy.

That is,

up until this episode.

'You've confirmed the facts

presented to this board?'

(Wead)

'Yes, sir.'

Any statement you'd like to make

prior to the board's action?

- 'Yes, sir.'

- Make it.

Charges against me boil down

to doing something

I'd never done before.

How else will we get aviation

for the United States Navy?

This all may be true

but it doesn't seem to have

much bearing on this case.

Sir, it is the case.

At least, it's mine.

And I think

it should be yours.

- Hi, Min.

- Hi.

Hi, Commodore.

I borrowed a little

of ol' Spig's corn whiskey.

Sure, that's okay. What else

have you got to do? Here.

What are you

all clobbered up about, Min?

If Spig gets bounced out

of the Navy--

Spig bounced

out of the Navy!

Look, Johnny,

Spig just joined the Navy.

I'm married to it.

I run the mess hall,

I swab the decks

I chip the rust.

You're afraid that they'll

kick Spig out of the Navy.

I'm afraid

that they won't.

[crying]

Hey.

I think

he's feverish.

- Now, I owe you my life.

- You owe me nothing.

That's what

I meant.

[indistinct chatter]

- Good evening.

- Good evening, Mrs. Wead.

So they didn't

kick you out after all.

Right.

And you spent all

of next month's pay celebrating.

Wrong. I won the first-to-solo

pool and I am loaded.

- Hey--

- No cracks.

The squadron decided

that flying with the Army

was as close to solo

a sailor could get.

And this,

my titian-haired darling

is what I brought

for you.

First prize.

- Commodore's sick.

- Commodore?

Where's the Commodore?

Hiya, little ol' fella.

How do you feel,

little ol' boy?

Look what your dad brought you.

First prize for the first crash.

Hey, let's get out of there.

You know, this crib's

getting a little small

for the ol' Commodore.

Hey, Min...

this kid is sick.

- The doc's in there.

- He'll be okay, Spig.

Sure, Mr. Wead.

Them little kids get everything.

- You know, colds, measles.

- Yeah, sure.

I had the mumps myself, six

times. It don't mean anything.

(Min)

'Spig!'

[Min sobbing]

Sorry, Spig.

- Anything we can do?

- No.

But he can do her

some good.

Stick around.

[sobbing]

- Congratulations.

- Thank you, sir.

Congratulations.

(Carson)

We sort of split up,

Spig and I did

after graduation.

He became a hotshot pilot,

alright.

Hotshot with a plane

and...a baby carriage too.

In those years,

Spig was only little brass.

But after all,where would big

brass be without little brass?

[door opens]

- 'Good morning, sir.'

- Good morning, Jack.

- Did you see this?

- Yes, sir.

- What are we gonna do about it?

- Jack, who's our best pilot?

I don't mean the best throttle

jockey or the one who flies

by the pit of his stomach

or by the seat of his pants.

I mean our best brain.

Capital B-R-A-I-N.

S-P-I-G.

- Get him.

- Yes, sir.

[music on gramophone]

(girl #1)

'Give me my shovel.'

Come on.

Give it to me.

Quiet, kids. Go on upstairs

and take your bath.

Just a minute,

young ladies.

Come back here and pick those up

and take them upstairs with you.

Come on. Now, hurry up.

Hurry up.

Come on.

Go on, get moving.

See that you wash

yourselves clean.

[music stops]

Good afternoon,

Miss America.

Here, among your unpaid bills,

I find a communication.

From Washington.

Washington, DC.

I'm not going.

Stay broke and keep moving,

that's the story of our lives.

Spig, you've got

two daughters.

And they've lived

in seven different houses

in seven different stations

in seven different years.

Back and forth across the

country and in and out of it.

Well, I'm just not gonna

move them anymore.

Well, have a drink.

Pensacola, Coronado. What's

the difference between houses?

It's a big difference to me.

'Cause I've got to live in them.

Alright. One of these days,

you'll have a nice, big, fine

gold-braided admiral's house

and you can live in it forever.

No, Spig. I'm a little tired.

I wanna relax a little bit,

I wanna drink a little bit

and I wanna spend a little more

than we can afford.

Okay, you've had your say.

Let's throw the kids and bags in

the jalopy and get on the road.

- We haven't much time.

- Okay.

You take the high road,

and I'll take the low road.

And we'll see who gets

to the poorhouse first.

But my road leads here.

Right here.

'It's like you got

a shiny desk'

'with a great big drawer

marked "Navy"'

'and a big drawer

marked "flying."'

And a tiny little drawer

marked "Min."

Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera,

and so on and so on.

Well, there's not much air

in my drawer, Spig

and I'm finding it

pretty tough to breathe.

I think you're getting

too big for your drawers.

No, no, no, ma'am.

I'll give you a clue.

Coronado, California.

C like in "crap game."

Yes, ma'am,

I want you to keep trying.

Stick and stay,

bound to pay.

- That's my way, Susie Mae.

- Hey, Spig.

- Beautiful?

- Is it on the level?

Ask me when we get to Bombay,

Paris or Hong Kong.

Which reminds me. Since when you

been cutting orders on me, boy?

Not me, Johnny.

Me and Admiral Moffett.

- Pincus, what's bothering you?

- It's my foot, sir.

When you win a bet from him,

his feet hurt.

I keep my money

in my shoes.

- Every time I pay, it hurts--

- Knock it off.

Attention.

- Wead, did you announce this?

- Yes, sir.

- Do you like it?

- Yes, sir.

War and football

draw the biggest crowds.

So now we'll have an

Army-Navy race around the world.

The whole country

will be sitting in on it.

Congress is sitting

in on it.

In fact, Congress

is sitting on it.

They've ordered a special

hearing tomorrow for you and me.

Shutup and get off

the phone, you stupid--

Carson?

Evening, sir.

- Hello, Pincus.

- Good evening, sir.

- How's the wife?

- Fine.

- And them lovely kiddies?

- Fine. Nice to see you.

Yes. Yeah. It's-it's..

I got her, Spig. Sir.

Hello.

Hello. Min?

Yeah. Did you

get my wire, hon?

It looks like we're gonna be

gone about a month.

Oh, you know how I am

about writing letters.

They all sound like

interoffice memos.

Tell her

you love her.

Looks like we'll be back here

a couple of years.

Why don't you

move on out?

Of course, I miss you.

That's what I'm trying to say.

I found a swell apartment, hon.

Just great for the kids, about

a block from a kindergarten.

'Of course,

it'll be a little noisy.'

'It's right near the airfield

and my squadron's planes--'

Well, anyway,

I finally got her.

Well, I didn't.

[piano music]

[people cheering]

(male #3)

'Round the world.'

Come and see this.

[people cheering]

- Thank you.

- With one flying by.

- Thank you, sir.

- Your hat, sir.

- Here's to your health, Wead.

- Thank you very much.

Please, gentlemen, gentlemen.

This is a private party.

A private Army party.

And a very nice party too.

Right?

- Yes.

- Cheers to you.

- Alberto.

- Yeah?

[speaking in foreign language]

Tell them to come right out

here, it's an emergency.

- Is that beer?

- Yes.

In prohibition?

- Don't you know it's illegal?

- I just work here.

Well, you should

watch yourself.

- Carson.

- Yes, sir.

Compliments of

the Army Air Corps.

Sir. Boy.

Spig, don't you think

we oughta blow?

We're gonna stir up

a mess here.

Where's your curiosity,

Mr. Price?

This is a rare opportunity

to study the species

"Homo sapiens."

Subspecies Army.

To General

John J. Pershing.

To Calvin Coolidge.

- To Spig Wead.

- Who's he?

The gentleman who sent

us the beer.

- Spig Wead.

- Mr. Wead.

- Sorry.

- To Mr. Wead.

To our landlocked

Congress.

May they quit smoking cigars

for a month

and buy us some planes.

[glass shattering]

To celebrate being selected

as the Army flight team

to beat Navy

around the world.

[all cheering]

- Good evening.

Spig, let's go on

out of here.

Don't be so rude. Our host

is about to make a speech.

- Continue.

- Thank you.

Gentlemen...I think

we'd do well now to make plans

for our victory dinner.

- 'Right?'

- 'Right.'

Every race implies a loser

as well as a winner.

And I think it could only prove,

once again, Army sportsmanship

to invite the Navy losers

to our victory dinner.

Gentlemen.

I presume that each team will

have the same number of men.

- Correct, mister?

- Correct.

Each of you, then, will invite

your opposite Navy number.

For the occasion, consider him

as your big brother.

[all laughing]

As a representative

of the Navy

I think a few words

are in order.

Very few.

It is 25,000 miles

around the world.

We expect to finish

12,500 miles ahead of you.

- End of few words. Thank you.

- Wait a minute, wait a minute.

The trouble is, mister,

you've got nothing to fly.

We won't need much more

than a kite to beat you.

- May I make a suggestion?

- Please do.

Why don't you fly this?

[crowd laughing]

A few more words

are in order.

You're our guest.

What manners!

We grace your party,

we drink your liquor

and I suppose

this is supposed to be funny.

A matter of opinion.

Well, the liquor

was pretty good.

And the cake is nice.

Right?

(all)

Right.

Thank you for the party,

gentlemen.

Thank you

and thank you.

Police.

'Police.'

Here, buddy,

hold this.

Hey, let's quit.

We're even.

Police. Police.

The kitchen.

[band music]

I can't think of an excuse.

Not a thing.

I'm going to say that

I forgot my wife's birthday.

She clobbered me.

They can't argue with that.

Sure can't. But me,

I can't think of a thing.

- Go ahead.

- You go ahead.

You afraid?

No.

So we were discussing..

Mr. Wead.

Captain Hazard.

Mr. Wead.

Captain Hazard.

'Information has reached me

through certain channels'

'that you two gentlemen

have met.'

Just for the record,

are we at war?

Where did you

get those eyes?

I forgot my wife's birthday,

and she clobbered me.

'And you?'

Me, I can't think

of a thing.

Well, gentlemen

your round-the-world race

is canceled.

The Army flight will take place

because they asked for it first.

But no race.

The Navy appreciates

your position, senator.

Good. You can't win.

Might as well be a good loser.

[clearing throat]

However, I'm not sure the

entire Navy shares that view.

- Permission to speak, sir.

- Fire away.

It's our training.

We're not taught to be losers.

Good or otherwise.

And now we are losing carriers

that we need

and planes

to fly from them.

'Someday we may lose

something bigger than that.'

If you can't develop

both services impartially

you're either shirking your duty

or you don't know what it is.

Well, son, there's a lot

of things we don't know.

'But here's some of

the things we do.'

Now, we've got a country yelling

"pacifism" at us...disarmament.

The world is gonna live together

like one big happy family.

There'll be no more war.

The Army and the Navy

are going out of business.

Now, you..

...outside of the clubs

and barrooms..

...you fight maybe one war

in a generation.

Well, we have to fight those

voters every blamed two years.

Now, you want us to cancel

that flight for the Army?

No, sir. That stunt

may get them the bombers

they need

for their service.

You just want to nail down

the Lexington and Saratoga?

Yes, sir.

'Not just a mockup,

like the Langley.

Well...they tell me

there's more than one way

to skin a cat, admiral.

- That'll be all, gentlemen.

- Yes, sir.

By the way..

...off the record,

who won that fight?

- The Navy.

- The Army.

[laughing]

Oh, boy, where is

the ladies' retiring room?

- Right in there, ma'am.

- Come on, girls.

Black eyes.

Swimming pool.

Congressmen.

Now, what's this new scuttlebutt

you're spreading?

International

seaplane races, sir.

The United States

has never won them

nor the Schneider Cup

that goes with the winning.

- I'm aware of that, Wead.

- Alright, let's play the races.

We'll hit the public

and keep hitting 'em.

You okay it, sir, and we'll

bring the Schneider Cup home.

Fill it with champagne and

jam it down the Army's throat.

Yeah, that

would be nice.

There's only one

thing wrong.

Why let the Army

drink our champagne?

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

That's your daddy up there

with the goggles.

See your daddy?

He's the one beside--

- Daddy.

- Him?

- Yes.

- Daddy.

- Will you shut up.

- Oh, drop dead.

Shh.

[music continues]

[piano music]

[music continues]

[bell ringing]

This one is for old Dave,

the first to cross the line.

[all cheering]

- Let me drink to old Dave.

- Hear, hear.

[indistinct chatter]

Speech, speech.

- Give me that cup.

- Yeah, pass it on.

This is a happy cup,

inside and out.

And here's a toast to all of you

who brought it back

where it belongs.

[all cheering]

You're a great crew,

each and every one of you.

Even Carson there,

who slept all through the race.

Oh, I know, Jughead,

you were up 96 hours

'getting the planes ready.'

But seriously..

...I want to thank every one of

you from the bottom of my heart.

It was a long

back-breaking job.

And those that flew know

what they owe to the others.

If it hadn't been

for the cooperation

and the teamwork--

[band music]

What's a record?

I told you, it's something

nobody else ever did.

Would it be a record

if daddy came home?

That would be

a world's record.

[pleasant music]

[doorbell ringing]

[music continues]

[doorbell ringing]

- We don't want anything.

- We're broke.

We've already got

a carpet sweeper.

- It ain't paid for.

- It isn't paid for.

Don't you kids ever read

the newspapers?

I'm your daddy.

- Hey, Pickle Puss, come here.

- What is it?

Remember..

Go and ask.

Are you the funny man

with the goggles?

I sure am, honey.

Oh, daddy.

And I've got a present

for each one of you.

Now, there's one for you,

and one for you.

- Where's your mother?

- At the bridge club.

Oh, the bridge club, eh?

- Oh, they're beautiful.

- Who's getting your supper?

I am,

of course.

- Do you want some?

- What is it?

- Ah, chicken a la king.

- I sure do.

Out of a tin can.

- I'm hungry.

- Want some?

Sure.

Then you just sit down

right there.

I was going to.

Shall I call you daddy?

- You better.

- Me too?

You too, Pickle Puss.

Here, wait a minute,

let me take that.

I'll serve you.

Sit down,

sit down.

Goodnight.

- You forgot something.

- What?

Now, I lay me

down to sleep.

(both)

I pray the Lord

my soul to keep.

If I die before I wake,

I pray the Lord my soul to take.

- Goodnight.

(Wead)

'Goodnight who?'

- Daddy.

Goodnight.

Sleep tight.

[soft music]

[music continues]

- Hi.

'"Home is the sailor,

home from the sea."'

"And the hunter home

from the hill."

Well, they cooked their supper

and then I threw them in bed.

How'd it feel?

Great but I blackmailed them.

I brought them some beads.

Well..

...go ahead, get over with.

Ask me where I have been.

Oh, I know where you've been.

You've been playing bridge.

You got behind.

The winners go to dinner

and the losers stay to play.

I know how it is.

I was going to phone you,

and then I got a cute idea.

I thought I'd come in

unannounced.

- To tell you the truth--

- Why don't you?

Alright.

I've been thinking

what a heel I've been..

...about you

and about my own kids.

I don't know. When I do

something, I go all the way.

Living, gambling, flying.

I tap myself out.

I guess that's the way

I want it to be.

Maybe, even,

it's the way I am.

Star-spangled Spig.

Damn the martinis

full speed ahead

and don't give up the ship.

[speaks in foreign language]

Have a drink.

Listen, Min, I'm trying to say

I've been a fool.

First class, senior grade,

gold braided.

So have I.

Okay.

Let's change it.

Let's grow up

before our kids do.

We'd better hurry up.

[phone ringing]

Phone's ringing.

Oh, let it ring.

Why not?

It's probably just Washington.

Oh, I forgot.

Do you know that you're

in the arms of the newest

lieutenant commander

in the United States Navy?

Star-spangled Spig.

And a squadron leader.

All I know is I'm in the arms

of a fella named Spig

that I'm nuts about.

Hey...how about getting back

to your necking

with a little more enthusiasm?

Right.

Mommy, do you know

whose lap you're in?

No.

- Daddy's.

- 'Daddy's.'

Go ahead, shake hands with him.

- How do you do?

Why don't you go to bed?

[girl crying]

'Mama.'

[crying continues]

(Min)

'Spig!'

Spig, what..

Don't, don't move me, Min.

I can't..

My back.

'No feeling.'

Call...hospital.

Naval hospital.

Bilateral paralysis resulting

from indicated fracture

of the fifth cervical vertebrae.

(Wead)

You mean my neck's busted?

That's it.

(Wead)

How bad is that?

Not good.

What are my chances?

If I operate right away,

about four to one.

What are we waiting for?

Permission from you

and your next of kin.

I'm my next of kin,

let's go.

(male #4)

Scissors.

(female #1)

Scissors.

(male #4)

Sponge.

(female #1)

'Sponge.'

Doctor.

Pressure is

dropping, doctor.

CC adrenalin.

(female #1)

'CC adrenalin.'

Hey.

- Can you hear me, Wead?

- Yes.

Open your eyes, Spig.

Can see you anything?

No.

- He's taking the dive.

- Hey.

What's the matter, Mr. Wead?

Can't you ever win a fight?

- Carson.

- Yeah, Carson.

- Trying to keep me alive.

- That's right.

- Well, you're doing it, thanks.

- Your welcome.

Get him the hell out of here.

Ma'am, throw this

under your belt.

Make a new man

out of you.

Thanks.

[door opens]

[instrumental music]

- Who are you?

- Me?

I'm the new corpsman assigned

to take care of Mr. Wead.

Glad to cooperate with you.

I mean you just call..

- Hey, you're pretty.

- We'll see about this.

Yeah, you do that.

(Wead)

Carson?

Yes, sir, Carson.

Excuse me.

(Wead)

Why?

I'm your new nurse,

that's why.

I'm gonna see you through

this little trouble.

Now, listen, do you know

the fix that you're in?

- No, do you?

- Yes, I figured it out.

Now, I'm gonna brief you.

(Wead)

Well, go ahead, brief.

Alright. Now, look.

This here is the spinal cord.

It's just like the main cable

on any three-phase circuit.

And when you stunted down

them stairs

you busted five-sixth of it.

- Can it be spliced?

- What?

(Wead)

Can it be spliced?

These croakers around here

will tell you it can't be done

but I'm telling you it can.

You remember the manual said

I couldn't splice rudder cable?

(Wead)

One-sixth left.

Right and that one-sixth

is gonna be enough.

We're gonna learn that one-sixth

to carry the whole load

all the way down

to these feeder circuits.

These medics never saw

no one wire around

a bad magneto post.

That's true.

(Wead)

Doctor, you heard him.

He gives me a chance.

I heard him.

But you don't?

Well, we never give up hope.

We'll do the best we can.

Carson, when were you

busted back?

Hey, Mr. Wead,

he recognized me.

- Do I have to have him around?

- You want him, Spig?

(Wead)

No, but I guess

he'll have to do.

I've assigned Miss Crumley

to your case, Wead.

Fine woman, fine nurse.

Anything we can do,

Miss Crumley, just give a buzz.

This is Miss Crumley.

- How is he, Carson?

- What do you expect?

Can't get him to eat, he won't

sleep. Hasn't eaten a thing.

Hasn't touched the juice,

a piece of toast

soup or something but he don't

wanna touch nothing.

(Wead)

Min.

- Hi.

Kids?

Oh, they're fine.

Do they know?

Big one does.

Little one thinks

you just took off again.

Oh, uh...she's worn

the beads around her neck.

Is it raining?

Yeah.

Those doctors,

did they tell you it was no go?

Look, Spig, they haven't

given up hope. Don't you.

Oh, it's got

all twisted, Min.

It's stay broke

and never move.

I won't let you

believe that.

You always yelled

that I moved around too much.

Maybe you were right.

You know what else you said

that was right?

"Damn the martinis,

full speed ahead."

Well, you be

like that, Min.

You be on your own

from now on.

Don't talk

like that, Spig.

You'll-you'll be

alright again.

No, don't pity me.

I never pitied anybody

so I don't want any.

Sorry, Spig.

You're right.

And don't pity

yourself either.

Get out in the world.

Be alive, take your turn.

I took mine.

Alright, Spig,

let's have it.

What are you trying

to tell me?

We were just about through

anyway, Min.

We'd lost it,

it got away from us.

Whatever it was,

and we both remember..

...the good part,

the fine time..

...let's not louse it up and let

it be something bad and hopeless

just because

we couldn't keep it.

- I'll bring the kids in.

- No, I couldn't take it.

Will you tell me when?

I'll tell you when.

The big one..

...she's like me.

Don't let her get away

with a thing.

And Pickle Puss..

...little old Pickle Puss,

she's like..

...like you.

Love her hard.

She's lost without it.

So long, Spig.

[slow music]

So long, Min.

Good luck.

[music continues]

(Carson)

'Good morning.'

- Is it still raining?

- Raining in California?

Besides, don't knock the rain.

It makes the corn jump up.

Cows eat the corn,

boom, you got porterhouse.

I went to Tijuana, got us some

of that panther sweat.

Medicinal panther sweat.

(Wead)

Tequila!

Besides, if we didn't

have any rain

we wouldn't have any ocean.

No ocean, no Navy.

No Navy, no retired pay.

You and me would have

to go to work.

You about ready

to get started?

- Why not?

- Okay.

Now, that brain of yours

is like a generator.

What we're gonna do is generate

that power right past that break

in your spinal cord, way down

here to these feeder circuits

they call nerves.

Now, we're gonna start

with this big left pinkie.

- You feel that?

- No.

Well, anyway, that's it.

Now, you start saying,

I'm gonna move that toe.

Come on, mister, say it.

(Wead)

Move.

- Move, you little dead stump--

- No, say it nice, say it nice.

Come on, say it, mister.

- I'm gonna move that toe.

Alright, say it again.

- I'm gonna move that toe.

- Alright, louder.

- I'm gonna move that toe.

- Say it again.

- I'm gonna move that.

- Keep saying it.

(Wead)

I'm gonna move that toe.

Believe it.

- I'm gonna move that toe.

- And again.

(Wead)

I'm gonna move that toe.

Louder, once more.

I'm gonna move that toe.

Knock it off,

take a little rest.

- Anything happen?

- Well, not yet.

Let's put some oil

in the crankcase.

Don't be impatient.

We got lots of time, Mr. Wead.

We're gonna..

That's enough.

We're gonna stick right at this.

Mm, start saying it again.

I'm gonna move that toe,

let's go.

- I'm gonna move that toe.

- Come on, loud.

- I'm gonna move that toe.

- Alright, believe it.

- I'm gonna move that toe.

- Again.

- I'm gonna move that toe.

Believe it, I'm gonna move

that toe. Come on, go.

(both)

I'm gonna move that toe.

Go ahead.

- I'm gonna move that toe.

- Good and loud.

- I'm gonna move that toe.

- Come on, Mr. Wead.

- I'm gonna move that toe.

- That's it, you got it.

- I'm gonna move that toe.

- That's it, go on.

- I'm gonna move that toe.

- Go again.

- I'm gonna move that toe.

- Once more.

Get that man's name.

Wait till you see what I got.

I kicked myself all the way back

from that joint

for not thinking of this before.

Wait till you get a load

of this, we got this whipped.

Tell me, what do you

see in there?

- 'Dolores, room 8--'

- 'No, no, no.'

'Down here, down here,

can you see this, ah?'

- 'Yeah.'

- 'Alright, look at this.'

- 'Do you see your big pinkie?'

- 'Yes.'

Alright, keep your eye on it.

Now, let's get started,

come on, same old thing.

I'm gonna move that toe,

go ahead.

- I'm gonna move that toe.

- Right, say it.

- I'm gonna move that toe.

- Come on, mean it.

- I'm gonna move that toe.

- That's right, now.

- I'm gonna move that toe.

* I'm gonna move

that toe, right *

* I'm gonna move that toe *

* That's right and I'm gonna

move that...one more chorus *

* I'm gonna move that toe.

Go, Mr. Wead *

* I'm gonna move that toe,

there you go *

* I'm gonna move that toe,

go ahead *

* I'm gonna move that toe *

Come on with a little rhythm.

* I'm gonna move that toe *

* And I'm gonna move that toe,

you got to *

* I'm gonna move that toe, boy *

* All of God's children got

toes, so move it *

* All of God's children got

toes, let's move it *

* Well move it, all of God's

children got toes, let's move *

Doctor's here, sir.

Still at it, eh?

Johnny.

You know, you can overdo

those exercises.

(Wead)

You mean, I could kill myself?

No, I'm just saying

you could overdo the work.

(Wead)

Well, I don't care too much

anymore which way it is.

But one of us is gonna give,

either me or that big toe.

You may just be right.

You're sleeping better,

eating better.

- Carson.

- Yes, sir.

This is against regulations,

but I feel it might do him good.

- Alcohol, sir?

- Oh, no, no, whiskey.

- Is it intoxicating?

- No, just a little, few drops.

I couldn't do that. Maybe just

a few drops in orange juice.

- It's not habit-forming?

- No, no.

- Alright, sir, trust me.

- Keep it under your hat.

See you, Spig.

Keep it up.

- How's your patient?

- Still alive.

I'll drop in to see him.

Alright, hit it and hit it hard.

I'm gonna move that toe.

- I'm gonna move that toe.

- Another doctor, sir.

And Miss Crumley.

- Good evening, Wead.

- Good evening, doctor.

Well, quite an arrangement.

My idea, sir.

Dolores.

I was talking to the commander

of the base about

Carson's temporary duty.

(Wead)

Well, what did he say?

As far as they're concerned,

they hope he never comes back.

Will you excuse us,

Miss Crumley.

Yes, doctor.

- Carson.

- Yes, sir.

This is against

all medical ethics, Carson.

But the slightly debilitating

effects of alcohol

are more than compensated

for by the physical stimulation

and the marked psychological

benefit to be derived.

I was thinking

the same thing myself, sir.

In other words, a good slug

of booze won't hurt him.

- Give him some of this.

- All of it, sir?

- No, no.

- A spoonful at a time?

- In water or orange juice?

- Grapefruit.

Grapefruit juice, right, and

if it doesn't upset Mr. Wead

we might have another bottle

for next week?

- We'll see.

- Right.

- But keep it under your hat.

- Trust me, sir.

I can make better booze

than that in a bathtub.

Alright, let's go.

I'm gonna move that toe.

Come on, Mr. Wead.

- I'm gonna move that toe.

- That's it.

* I'm gonna move that toe,

move it *

* I'm gonna move it *

(Wead)

'I'm gonna move that toe.'

[alarm ringing]

'I'm gonna move that toe.'

I'm gonna move that toe.

'I've got to.'

'I'm gonna move that toe.'

I'm gonna move that toe.

I've got to move that toe.

I've got to move it.

I gotta move that toe.

I'm gonna move it.

I gotta move it.

- More?

- Please.

Now, you enjoy

that nice fresh air.

- His wife.

- Alright.

Good morning.

Well, look at you, pretty soft.

All you gotta do is lay there,

look at children in the park.

- Pretty ships out in the bay.

- What're men with legs doing?

Oh, they're trying to learn

to use their heads.

The millionaires are back

from Florida

and the bums are out

of the poolrooms.

What are you reading?

Dames, murder, what?

- Love.

- Oh.

Lousy.

Writes like he'd used

my big toe for a pencil.

You don't like any books

I bring you.

Even the one I swiped

from the chaplain

the one that was banned

in Boston.

If you don't like my literature,

try writing some yourself.

- It's not a bad idea.

- No pictures.

As far as I can make out,

writing is like telling lies.

Only they wrap it up

in fancy paper.

You're the world's greatest

natural born liar I ever met

so why don't you try it?

- Eight months.

- Oh, quit bellyaching.

Eight months and

it seems like eight years.

What are you crying about? You

were 4-1 not to be here at all.

You were about 100-1 never

to be puffing a cigarette

about 500-1 not to be propped up

here like Sultan of Pandemonia.

A million-to-one

not to be able to

sign your name on your paycheck

which incidentally

after the allotment for your

wife and kids, came to 94 bucks.

I gave 10 bucks to each

of the charge accounts

which left us 14 fish.

Here you are, sign it.

- I'm broke.

- 'Broke? You are busted.'

[knocking on door]

Come in.

Oh, well, hello Alice

or is it Agatha?

Or is it Dolores?

No, it couldn't be Dolores.

(Carson)

'Hey, that's not bad.'

'That's the best yet.'

The best yet.

Well, let's get to work.

(Wead)

'Who sent the flowers?'

- 'Sent what?'

- 'Those red roses.'

Not me, I'm not in the habit

of sending flowers to men.

Let me know if you can see

it alright. Okay, there.

Now, we gotta concentrate.

- Was there a card in them?

- No.

- Okay, now, when you think--

- You sure there was no card?

I told you there was no card.

Use your brain for a generator.

Let's push that power

all the way down

right down here

to these feeder nerves.

Right, right in here, okay?

Got the idea?

Alright, now,

let's concentrate.

Oh that's it,

that's the idea.

It moved.

It what?

Mr. Wead, I-I saw..

The foot.

- Do it again.

- What?

It move-move..

Hey, nurse, doctor, anybody..

He moved, he moved his toe,

Miss Crumley.

Why do you have her husband

coming through the door

with a gun?

Did the guy

ever get away with it?

I'd have been dead

a long time ago.

- You're late.

- Here, right off the boat.

Scraped off, ha ha.

Hi, Mr. Wead.

Gee, you look great, just great.

- Thanks.

- Sitting up in bed and all.

Still writing them stories?

Arab sheiks? Murder?

[whistles]

[imitates barking]

Now, I believe in miracles.

That's all that happens,

except there.

(male #5)

'What's that, Spig?'

Twenty for 20.

20 stories, 20 rejections.

I'm batting 0-0-0.

But you're batting.

Let's have it straight, doc.

You're gonna retire me?

I'm afraid I am.

But we've got some

good news for you, Spig.

Good news.

Here you are, sir.

Wheels for legs.

Doctor, permission, please.

Ms. Crumley has made a

request which is strictly

against naval regulations.

- But if my colleague concurs..

- Oh, by all means, doctor.

- Uh, permission granted.

- Thank you, doctor.

This is elderberry wine that

my aunt made back in Wisconsin

especially for this occasion.

Well, Ms. Crumley,

thanks. Thanks.

[melancholic music]

[exhales]

Wind..

...sky and...sea.

And elderberry wine.

- Simple things, eh, Jughead?

- Sheer poetry.

Now, Mr. Wead, sit back

and close your eyes.

- What for?

- Because I said so.

Take a look.

The Saratoga.

- The first real carrier.

- Yep. Pretty, ain't she?

(Wead)

'She's a beautiful lady.'

[orchestral music]

[aircrafts roaring]

Who's upstairs?

Mr. Price. That's his squadron.

They've been out on maneuvers.

- Take me back.

- What?

I said, take me back.

As you say, Mr. Wead.

Let me have that tape.

Right. Thank you.

Okay, Arizona, let's go.

Right there. Hold it.

Right there.

- Okay, sir.

- Here you go.

Hold that one. Alright, sir.

Up you go now. One.

Alright, Pincus, heave

at it. There we go.

That's it. Take it

easy up there, sir.

- Alright?

- Right.

Here's yesterday's mark. Let's

try and pass that one today.

Okay.

Come on, pick 'em up,

lay 'em down. That's it. One.

Let's try with

the other one.

- Oh, Mr. Wead.

- That's it. Try the other one.

Stand on it. Don't cheat

with the crutches.

- Come on, try.

- Stand up on 'em, sir.

Come on, pick 'em up..

Shut up, Pincus.

Pick 'em up and lay

'em down. Listen.

- That's it.

- That's it. One more.

- I can't make..

- Come on, sure you can.

No distance to go at all.

We did this yesterday, come on.

- You're doing beautifully.

- Pick 'em up, lay 'em down.

Come on. That's it.

Stand on that one, Mr. Wead.

That's it. Don't cheat with

those crutches, I'm telling you.

- That was wonderful.

- That's it.

Pick 'em up, lay 'em

down. That's it.

Just say it to yourself.

Pick it up and lay it down.

Pick it up. That's it.

And one more.

Hold on right there. Give me

another piece of tape.

That's yesterday's mark. Now,

today, here's where we go today.

- No, I think that..

- You're gonna make it. Come on.

[all talking together]

Come on, pick 'em up,

lay 'em down. Come on.

- A couple more.

- Pick 'em up.

Let's try one more. One more.

One more, just one more.

Just one more.

[all cheering]

[violin music]

He did it.

Come.

- Hiya, Spig.

- Hey, John Dale.

- How are you, boy?

- Home is the sailor.

You're looking good. You're

looking as stout as a mama mule.

Thank you. I'm walking

or toddling.

Yeah? Say, I brought

you some flowers.

- Red roses?

- Well..

- Sure. Red roses.

- You brought 'em for me?

Yeah.

- Thanks.

- You're welcome.

Hey! What's this? You finally

made it. Congratulations.

We're gonna have to celebrate

that and wet 'em down.

Maybe, we'd better wait

till I get 'em paid for.

'Say, Spig, did you

see her out there?'

Yeah, I saw her.

She's a beaut, ain't she?

She sure is.

Travis wanted me

to tell you, Spig.

You helped us get that ship.

You can help us again.

We need a dozen more

just like her.

What do you want me to do,

go back to stunting?

No. But yesterday, a man

came down from Hollywood

asking about

a carrier movie.

He asked the old man, the old

man dumped him in my lap.

I was looking around for the

next lap to put him in

when I remembered

what you once said

about getting the

public on our side.

Getting them to help us out

with the moneymen in Congress.

I figure a lot of

the public would go

to see a good movie

about carriers

so I...tossed him

a couple of bones

and he wants

to talk to you.

He wants me to write

about carriers?

Why not?

- How does he know I can write?

- Well, he knows he can't.

Yeah. Well, I'm a...writer

without a reader.

That's not exactly

what I told him.

[upbeat music]

Hey, that's good.

Hold onto your hat and cross

your fingers. We're still..

- Well, hi, Mr. Price.

- Hi, Jughead.

Oh, congratulations.

Your uncle get re-elected?

- Show him the mail.

- Here it goes, Mr. Frank.

That's a bill,

Mr. Frank, a bill.

- Milford, Austin, Carson.

- No! Not that.

"Mr. Frank Wead Jr."

- What is it? Another rejection?

- It's got a different envelope.

They didn't send

the story back this time.

- Open it up.

You open it.

- "Pay to the order of Frank--"

- "Frank Wead Jr., 100 bucks."

I told you, you let the husband

out with a gun, you'd get lucky.

- One hundred bucks. We're rich.

- May I congratulate you, sir.

- Me too. Congratulations.

- This calls for a celebration.

- How about a drink?

- I couldn't be party to that.

Well, under the circumstances..

Well, under

the circumstances.

Would you like these

in a vase, sir?

No. Just leave

'em right here.

[chuckling]

- To the first story.

- To Mr. Price's stripes.

And the red roses.

Pretty good liar,

aren't you, Johnny?

And three swell guys.

I'm Commander Wead.

I think Mr.--

I'm sorry, but Mr. Dodge..

I believe he's expecting you,

Commander Wead.

Thank you.

- 'Commander Wead is here.'

- Ah! Blast it, Stonewall.

I told you I was

at conference.

I'm not supposed to be

disturbed under any circum..

Oh.

Come on in.

Well, come in, come in.

It's good to see you.

Thanks.

Go ahead and sit down,

make yourself comfortable.

You've to kinda

watch that couch.

It's got a hidden spring in it

that surprises us sometimes.

[Spig grunts]

Watch that door.

Here.

- Familiar?

- Well, Commander.

I find that about

this time of the afternoon

a little drink's good for you,

good for the pump, you know?

Here you are.

I used to make excuses when I

drank in the afternoon, too.

Funny thing, a man always makes

the loudest excuses to himself.

Yeah, that's a fact.

That sure is a fact.

Right here, commander?

There you are.

Commander of a

portable typewriter.

That can be lot harder

than handling a battleship.

- I found that out.

- Hmm.

Well, I know you haven't

had much experience writing..

...and none at all in pictures,

but I've heard about you.

Sounded like you were

just the man I wanted

for a story about the Navy.

I don't want a story

just about ships and planes.

- but a story about officers--

- And the men that run them.

That's exactly it.

For example, did you happen to

know any chief petty officers?

- Do I? Hand me that cane.

- Sure, here.

No, I'm kidding.

Well, I-I want this story

from a pen dipped in saltwater

not dry martinis.

You know what I mean?

Yeah, damn the martinis,

full speed ahead.

- Like to take a crack at it?

- That's why I'm here.

Good. Come on, let's go.

Can I give you a hand?

- No, no, I'm alright.

- Oh, I'm sorry. Sorry.

I didn't know he'd been injured.

Why didn't you tell me?

Give him that office there and

see he gets everything he wants.

Commander, what do they

call you? Spig, isn't it?

- That's right.

- Mind if I call you Spig?

- Not at all.

- This is Ms. Jackson.

(Dodge)

'Stonewall Jackson,

Commander Wead.'

- Hello, Commander.

- Hello, Stonewall.

You mind if I

call you Stonewall?

- Not at all.

- She's been here for 22 years.

She's my barometer. If she likes

your script, I throw it away.

Wouldn't know what to do without

her. Now, go to work. Oh..

You didn't ask

about your salary.

Well, I figure you'll

pay me what I'm worth.

What you've to worry about is

that I'm worth what you pay me.

It's a deal.

Well, wait a minute.

Is-is that all?

Well, what do you need?

Pencil and paper?

- Well, what do I write about?

- People. Navy people.

Hey, what's the big idea?

Laugh...that off, will you?

Hey, what's the idea?

That was on the level.

It was! I came down here

to knock your block off.

- Oh, yeah?

- Yeah.

That's it. Fight.

Fight.

[crowd shouting]

[shouting continues]

[whistling on screen]

'Get out of here.'

- Well, that was very..

- Oh, nice work.

Tell George that was

a good job of directing.

Congratulations,

Commander.

How'd you like that kid?

Great. Sign him up.

Spig, I've been thinking

about that title, Hell Divers.

Great title.

We'll have to take

it up with the Hays' office.

You can't say hell

on the screen, you know?

Listen, Spig, you might

just as well face it.

Writing is the loneliest

job in the world.

There's nobody

there but you.

And I'll give you 50..

I'll give you 100-to-one

your play won't be

a success.

- You're not listening to me.

- Do you blame me?

Not a bit.

Spig, I know the stage,

I know the screen.

I've toured every tank town

from East Burlap, Maine

to West Burlap, Oregon.

I even played

in this thing once.

- 'Ulysses?'

- 'Yep.'

You played in Ulysses?

Bowling Green, Kentucky.

I played Robert E. Lee.

Look, you got a beautiful home

here, half paid for, half empty

but no. You got to go

to New York and do a play.

I'll give you 1000-to-one

you have the worst flop

that ever hits Broadway.

[audience clapping]

[people murmuring]

- 'Nice going, Mr. Wead.'

- Thanks, Joe.

- Looks like you got a hit.

- Jughead!

Yes, sir, Carson,

late of the U.S. Navy.

I thought you were

running a chicken farm.

I was running one. I gave it up.

Chickens get up too early.

Early to bed, early to rise.

Might as well be dead.

Big playwright now, huh?

Rich as Croesus.

Never had time to drop a guy a

line. Not even a Christmas card.

Okay, Carson.

- So I'm a stuffed shirt?

- That's right.

- So I'm a horse's rump?

- Correct.

Well, that was yesterday.

Where're we going now?

We're going to

a saloon, where else?

My chicken ranch was six miles

from my nearest neighbor.

She was a Polish lady

that weighed 258 pounds.

And when she started

looking good to me, I blew.

[both chuckle]

What you gonna do

with your loot?

- You know who it's for.

- For who?

The kids. Who else?

- How are they doing?

- Well, they're both in school

but I'm gonna get them

out there with me.

[background jazz music]

(Jughead)

Well..

...how old can we get?

You ever hear from her?

She's doing fine.

Has a job in San Francisco,

and she's happy.

- 'Is she married?'

- Yes, to me.

Well, you're gonna get the kids,

why don't you get her?

Buy yourself a yacht,

take a trip around the world.

'I'll sail it for you.'

I'm no good for her.

'Remember when they gave you two

chances to live, slim and none?'

'But you made it.'

And I can remember you had

two crutches and 14 bucks

which you parlayed

into a fortune.

Of course, that's before you

became fat and baldheaded.

'Them days, all you

ever asked for was a chance.'

Do you think I've got

a chance with her?

Well, what makes

you think you ain't?

Come on.

- Where're you going?

- We're going to the airport.

I'll send you to San Francisco.

After that, you're on your own.

Give me that, rich guys

like you never pick up a tab.

Come on, we got 46 minutes

to catch that plane.

[aeroplane roaring]

[doorbell buzzing]

Just a minute!

(Min)

Hi.

Hi, Min.

Big playwright.

- Huh.

I was gonna call you, and then

I decided to get cute again.

Here, let me take your coat.

[Min whistling]

Cashmere.

[sighs]

- Here, let me help you.

- No, I..

Sure, go ahead.

Well, what are we

gonna talk about?

- You heard from the kids?

- I hear from them every week.

That's how I

know about you.

'Your pictures,

your plays, your books.'

Somehow, you always manage to

stand out in their letters.

- Second year college.

- Yeah.

Spig..

...you mean an

awful lot to them.

Why don't you have them

with you for a while?

I want to. That's one

of the reasons I'm here.

I think you should.

I think they need you.

And I need them too.

And I need more than that.

I need you.

Hard to believe?

A little.

Just believe it, Min.

Don't analyze it

or...take it apart

or look at it too hard.

I've done all that.

Just believe it.

[slow violin music]

I don't know, Spig.

I've made a new life

for myself.

At least I can be what I am

and what I want to be.

- I've got somewhere, small--

- Sure, sure. You're somewhere.

The kids are somewhere,

and I'm somewhere

but we're really nowhere

unless we're together.

If it isn't a family,

it's...it's nothing.

[slow music]

(Wead)

I don't know. Maybe, it's..

...too late. Maybe..

[music continues]

[Min sobbing]

[church bell ringing]

(Wead)

'O'Faolain.'

O'Faolain, Bridy.

Bridy O'Faolain.

The widow O'Faolain,

if you please.

What're you dressed up for?

Where you going?

To mass on the Sabbath, and it

wouldn't do you harm someday.

And perhaps, you're going

to confession, too.

I might. And what put that

in your evil mind, pray?

This room.

The kitchen.

And the bar.

And the ashes.

And the dust.

Unmitigated sloppiness.

- I'm guilty.

- We're both guilty.

But we're gonna

reform, O'Faolain.

Because in just a few seconds,

I'm going to pick up that phone

call my wife, and she's coming

here to live with us.

- Herself?

- Herself.

- Your wife's coming here?

- She is.

Oh, God bless you.

And God bless her

for her foolishness. Oh!

'The poor girl,

I'll save me beads for her.'

[door closes]

[sighs]

Long distance?

I want San Francisco.

Sutter 2-3969.

Crestview 4510.

How long of a wait?

Yes, ma'am.

I'll be right here, thank you.

[church bell ringing]

[door opens]

The radio.

The Japanese. Pearl Harbor.

- What are you talking about?

- The newsboy just told me.

- The Japanese bombed.

- Turn on the radio.

(male announcer)

'...appeared over Diamond Head

and launched an attack'

'on the giant U.S. Naval base

at Pearl Harbor.'

'The planes appeared

utterly without warning'

'apparently coming

from aircraft carriers'

'which had been moved

forward during the night.'

'The enemy craft were over

the island of Oahu for one hour'

'and 20 minutes bombing the

naval base and nearby..'

[phone ringing]

'The White House has

just announced that'

'one old battleship capsized'

'several others were hit,

and a destroyer was sunk.'

'American casualties

were said to total 3000..'

Turn it off.

'...of which 1500 were killed.'

[phone ringing continues]

Hello.

Min?

Did you hear it?

I just turned off the radio.

Of course, you'll try, Spig.

Well, I'll try. You know,

I've got to try, Min.

I'll go there.

To Washington.

Talk to them.

Maybe they won't

have me, I don't know.

If they don't have you,

Spig...I will.

(Wead on phone)

'Well, that's all I need.'

That's all I've got, Spig.

I said that's all I've got.

Bye, Spig.

'Min..'

'...well, goodbye,

sailor. I..'

[sobbing]

[melancholic music

on gramophone]

Stop. Stop.

Stop. Stop!

And you want

active duty?

Combat?

I've never been under fire.

You know that, sir.

- 'You looking for a thrill?'

- Just a fight.

Spig, let's talk like

what we are, old friends.

Old, I said. Even a sailor

must do it, get old.

Like Nimitz, Halsey,

and Pete Mitscher?

'Spig, you know

better than this.'

War gets fought at a desk

just as it does on a flattop.

It gets won and

lost by logistics.

Ah, I'll let you

in on something.

Every plan we ever had is down

at the bottom of Pearl Harbor.

'Yeah, we lost

our Sunday shirt.'

- Well, that bad?

- 'Yeah, that bad.'

Now, you see this?

Well, this is sort

of a flattop.

I'm sticking my neck out.

You want one, you can have one.

I'll try it for size,

Admiral, and thanks.

The name's still Jack.

Farrington, get him a uniform

a desk, and a drink. He's going

to work for the first time.

Aye-aye, sir.

I'm alright.

(man on speaker)

'The carrier, Hornet.'

'Notice the hits

by enemy action.'

'Three Kamikazes.'

'Two hits.'

'One forward..'

'...one mid-ship.'

'Not a chance.'

Notice the

abandon-ship drill.

'Morale excellent.'

We have only one

carrier left, gentlemen.

Repeat, one carrier left.

Enterprise.

- And more on the way.

- Well, they won't help..

They won't help now.

Every battle we fight

depends on the big carriers.

But there's a limiting factor,

planes and crews.

Can't carry enough. There oughta

be a way to keep 'em in action.

- Yeah, but how?

- Well, it's a simple thing.

It keeps...going around in

my head like a forgotten name.

What do you do when you're

stuck like that, Levi?

Well, I go through

the alphabet backwards, sir.

I take a long cold beer.

Back in Hollywood, we cut

to the seventhcavalry.

[chuckles]

[dramatic music]

[music continues]

[bell rings]

Attention!

Johnny.

I've been looking

high and low for you.

Well, what do you know?

- Yeah, my uncle got re-elected.

- You got your command.

- Task force.

- Combat, you lucky dog.

Say, and you, I have

been calling your hotel

and you haven't

checked in for three days.

What're you doing,

sleeping on this deck?

- Well..

- I've got three hours to kill.

I got a jeep outside. I'll buy

you the tallest, coldest beer--

- You got a what outside?

- A jeep.

That's it. That's the

forgotten name.

Jeep, Jeep carriers.

It was there all the time,

I knew it'd be simple

once we thought of it.

Hand me that...Liberty ship.

Give me a chair.

Drag up a chair.

That's it, Johnny.

Jeep carriers.

That's the limiting factor.

Spig, I haven't got

too much time..

Yeah?

- So long, partner.

- So long.

That's what

we've been needing.

[bell ringing]

Johnny.

John Dale.

[bell ringing]

[bell rings]

Attention!

At ease.

- Soryu, Akagi, Kaga.

- I know all that.

- Wead?

- Yes, sir.

Let's have it.

These big combat carriers are

still the spear-point of battle.

But now, backing them up,

we have these jeep carriers

loaded with planes and crews.

If the big carrier loses

a plane, she radios back

and a replacement

is immediately underway.

The big carrier

stays in action.

- You can get this on paper?

- Yes, sir.

I like it.

Write it up.

Eureka.

[bell ringing

and shouting]

Cut me some orders, boy.

[melancholic music]

- Welcome home, sailor.

- Hello, Jock.

- How are you feeling?

- Like an old fire horse.

Good.

- Thanks for everything.

- Thanks for nothing.

Well, there she is.

She's all yours.

Oh, I want you to say hello

to an old pal of yours.

- Doc.

- How are you, fella?

Oh, half-man, half-worm,

and half-wit.

Well, I got the last

chapter of the book.

Come on, Spig, I'll show

you to the royal suite.

Knock it off.

Sir.

(Wead)

Jughead!

I don't believe it.

- How'd you wangle this?

- Same as you.

Drag, pull, juice.

I know where

the bodies are buried.

You buried them.

Thanks, Jughead.

So you finally made it.

Come on, let me show you around.

- I got the crap game.

- And everything else.

[all laughing]

[ship horn blaring]

- You look a little beat up.

- Yeah, too many soft chairs.

Living off the fat

of the land, eh?

Well, the sea will

bring it out.

Don't worry. I'll make

a man out of you again.

And the next time you walk

in that door, sailor, salute.

Aye-aye, sir.

Hey, wait. This is

pretty nice, huh?

You and me and

old Jock and the doc.

All we need now is Pincus.

Whatever happened to Pincus?

He made it. Back

to the old Arizona.

- Pearl Harbor?

- Yeah.

- You know where we're going?

- Got a general idea.

You're gonna see yourself

some action, sir.

(man on radio)

'All hands, man your

battle station.'

[explosions]

(man on transmitter)

'Pilots, turn your planes.'

Yep, plenty of action.

You're gonna see

island grabbing the hard way.

'Step by step

on the Tokyo road.'

'You'll see us pounding away

with everything we've got.'

'And them pounding back at us

with everything they've got.'

[planes droning]

[gun firing]

[gun firing continues]

[speaking indistinctly]

(man on radio)

'Crash on the flight deck.

Crash on the flight deck.'

One in on the deck..

'We'll see if your jeep carriers

can send replacement planes'

'fast enough to keep the big

carriers in their slugger.'

'Because the big carriers

are it, sailor.'

'High, low, jack and the game.'

Nine minutes, 56 seconds.

You owe me a sawbuck.

Good job, Spig. Swell show.

We'd had your plan at Tarawa,

we could've saved casualties.

When you gonna sleep?

You've been going for 54 hours.

- I'll sleep after the party.

- The party's as good as over.

- I'm as good as asleep here.

- Captain, make him go to bed.

- Go to bed.

- No, sir.

Here's the Oscar, sir.

Uh, we've got them now.

Listen to this, Jughead.

"Formal resistance has collapsed

on all fronts as of 12:42.

"Vigilance against

die-hard individual action

"will be maintained, but your

commander is signaling

"Washington that

Kwajalein is ours

and signals each

of you, well done."

- A clear path to the Marianas.

- A clear path to bed for you.

- Haven't even got under fire.

- Get under the sheets.

Captain, make it

an order, will you?

- That's an order, Spig.

- I'll fix the coffee.

No cream, no sugar.

[beeping]

(man on radio)

'General quarters. All hands,

man your battle stations.'

[plane whirring]

[rapid firing]

I-I guess I forgot

to stick out my hand.

Jug.

Jughead!

[guns firing]

[seagulls squawking]

Wait a minute,

wait a minute.

This is a game

you have to think.

Use my brain little bit when..

Ten-hut!

- Relax.

- Hi.

Hi.

Well..

I had to get to battle.

Worried I got you killed.

I'm a Gemini. You can't kill me

until after 17th of the month.

Anyway, Frank Merriwell Jr.

had to...see action.

Oh, you did me a favor.

I'm a wounded hero.

They're even gonna give me a

medal. I got a month at Waikiki

in the sun and the surf.

Gin rummy. Gin.

And those beautiful nurses.

Do you remember the nurse

you had in San Diego?

- Ms. Crumley.

- I want you to meet her son.

- The name is, McGuffy, sir.

- McGuffy Crumley.

Put the black king on red ace.

He even cheats when he plays.

Is there anything you need?

Yeah, but you ain't

got it out here.

Well, look, Jughead.

I'm trying to say is--

You don't look good, yourself.

Why don't you move over?

Yeah.

Well, I..

Drop in and see a guy, will ya?

Yeah.

'Yeah.'

[gasping]

Jug.

[grunts]

There it is, Spig.

Looks like a...drunken

grasshopper.

- It's all good?

- Lousy.

How long does it say?

Three days,

three months, three years.

Okay?

Why not?

Like to have you

do me a favor, Johnny.

- lf I can.

- Even if you can't.

Try me.

A lot of people went to some

trouble to get me out here.

I know.

I don't want them

to blame themselves.

Why should they?

I don't know why.

I just don't want it.

- What do you want?

- You to snip a little red tape.

Go on.

I'd like to go over

the side quietly.

Retire.

Fatigue?

Yeah.

Let them think

I was beat up.

Alright, Spig.

[melancholic music]

[music continues]

Will you get a load of

all the brass over there?

- Yeah.

- Army brass too.

[ship whistle]

Present arms!

[sharp whistle]

- Well, Spig.

- Thanks for the ride, Jock.

Good luck, fella.

That'll do at the side.

(male #6)

'Order arms!'

(Wead)

Johnny.

Thank you, sir.

- Shorty.

- Hiya, Spig.

- No cake?

- No cakes.

And no swimming pools.

Good luck, fella.

Salute!

[band music]

So long.

[music continues]

The Wings of Eagles (1957) - full transcript