Amelia

Engine two looks fine. How's number one?

Did a compression

check. Engine one looks fine.

We love you, Amelia!

Good luck, Amelia!

Miss Earhart, do you really

think you'll break the record this time?

She will fly the world's full circumference,

24,902 miles,

to travel across the South Atlantic,

crossing Africa, over India...

After this 'round-the-world flight,

Miss Earhart,

are you gonna give up long-distance flying?

Not while there's still life left in me.

I fly for the fun of it.

Good luck!

All right, give us a big smile!

We love you, Amelia!

Thank you. That's enough.

Mr. Balfour, come in, over.

Mr. Putnam.

The headwinds were stronger

than they knew when they took off.

I recalculated the fuel.

It'll cost them nine percent.

Nine percent.

When I saw that little plane,

it lifted me above the Kansas prairie.

I had to fly.

My daddy had the wanderlust.

That's why I like to keep moving.

Flying lets me move in three dimensions.

Who wants a life imprisoned in safety?

Miss Earhart?

Mr. Putnam will see you now.

Send the papers

over this afternoon. Thank you, bye.

- Miss Earhart?

- Mr. Putnam?

Please, sit.

I'm told you want to fly

across the Atlantic Ocean.

- I do.

- Why do you want to fly?

- Why?

- Why do you want to fly?

Why does a man ride a horse?

Because he wants to, I guess.

Three women have died trying.

Two others have escaped with their lives.

If you do make it, you will be the first,

which is the real attraction

for both of us, I expect.

Always nice to know

what the real attraction is.

The plane was bought from

Admiral Byrd by Amy Guest, a socialite,

who's asked to find an American.

Educated, well-spoken, a flier

and preferably physically attractive.

Why would that matter?

Because she wants

the world to pay attention.

And pretty girls command more attention.

Was that your advice?

There'll be a contract for the girl's

story with The New York Times.

Also a book

to be published under her name.

But all the money

from this will go to Mrs. Guest.

Except for the part that goes to you.

Well, this is America,

and therefore I am obligated to

make as much money as I can.

You have a wonderful laugh, Miss Earhart.

You said she wants a flier.

Don't get your hopes up.

The celebrated Wilmer Stultz will be pilot.

There will be a male co-pilot

who will also serve as navigator.

The woman will be purely a passenger.

Take Lindbergh. I published his book

three months after his historic flight.

Must be wonderful to actually know him,

to be a friend of his.

Friend? Good God, no.

Can't stand the man.

He's a stiff-ass, sanctimonious,

boring prude.

Was a bestseller though.

Why would anyone want to read

a book written by a passenger?

Because the hook is that they're gonna

make the woman commander.

The pilot will sign a contract

saying he's under

your direction and control.

It would be your flight.

My fraud, you mean.

A very distasteful word

in book publishing, Miss Earhart.

I don't know, Mr. Putnam.

My dream has always been

to fly across the Atlantic,

but the way you want me to do it is far

from the way I've envisioned it.

Let me be frank.

With your level of flight experience,

I wouldn't place you

anywhere near the group

that would normally be considered for this,

if a woman were to do any flying at all.

Miss Earhart, let me be painfully clear,

I give the orders and you take them.

And if you do as you're

told, you'll be a star.

And I will be nearby,

a small particle of dust

in your constellation.

Spoken like a gentleman.

Miss Earhart.

Mr. Putnam.

Of course,

a gentleman would've paid for my ticket.

What the hell are they?

Oryx!

Look how free they are!

No constraints, no schedules to keep.

For a gal who don't like schedules,

you sure got yourself hooked up

with the wrong fella in Mr. Putnam.

Boys, I'd like to introduce

your commander, Miss Amelia Earhart.

Say hello to Slim Gordon, your navigator.

How do you do?

And Bill Stultz,

- the best pilot working today.

- Hello, Bill.

How much fuel do you lose

because of these?

Costs us at least 400 gallons.

Well, then why have them?

The owner wants to protect her

plane in case you have to ditch it at sea.

But those are decisions I have to make,

not somebody else.

They're not making this trip, we are.

But she owns the plane,

and this is still America, Miss Earhart.

Ownership is the trump card.

Sad to say, but dollars

put planes in the air.

I wonder if it can keep us up there,

not that I've ever had enough to try.

Our job is to figure out

how to fly this beauty without gasoline.

Include the whole engine up here.

The name is Amelia Earhart.

Careful up there, Slim.

They're leaving for Newfoundland.

Yes, they'll be taking off

for there tomorrow, weather permitting.

Make sure the reporters are there.

Goodbye.

Popping-off letters.

For my dad, my mom, and my sis.

You know, in case.

I'm honored that you would

leave these with me.

Who else? If I do pop off, it's your fault.

Pray I make it.

Not much of a prayer man.

Then at least tip your hat

and cross your fingers.

Well,

- see you:

- See you.

It's a short hop

from Boston to Newfoundland

for Amelia Earhart and crew.

Then on to Ireland,

and possibly the record books.

Earhart and top-notch ace

Bill Stultz have to get airborne,

quite a feat once their plane is fully

loaded for the Atlantic crossing.

Seems like we got a situation here,

a real problem.

When you figure it out,

Commander, let us know.

I don't even know

what the hell I'm saying anymore.

Here's to Little Miss Earhart,

who couldn't lift a pigeon off the ground!

What time is it?

It's time to fly.

Get up, get dressed, we're going now.

Where's the weather report?

It's not good enough.

Great.

Either we fly to Ireland

or you're going home today.

Well, it's not good enough.

It's fine. There's a tailwind all the way.

We'll off-load to 700 gallons,

which gets us off the water

and the wind will get us to Ireland.

You're dumping fuel? You're serious?

Just as serious as you're hung-over.

Slim, you go now. Get the late weather.

We'll meet you at the plane.

Slim, go. I've got this.

I've loved one person unconditionally, Bill.

He's the most caring and generous

and charming

and flat-out funny guy I'll ever know.

He's my father.

He's a drunk,

and he's let me down all my life.

Now you get out of that goddamn bed,

and you fly that plane to Ireland,

or I swear to you, I will.

Good. Slim, start the engines.

This report indicates some degree of risk.

It's a risk I'm taking.

Have a nice flight.

Read tomorrow's papers, Bill!

We'll both be in them.

So, to take off,

you pull back on the thing, right?

Go get 'em, Amelia!

Start the clock!

Let's hope this works!

We're up.

We're up. We're up!

- Good work!

- Well done, Commander!

The fog comes on little cat feet.

It sits, looking over harbor and city,

on silent haunches

and then moves on.

Listen.

The motors are humming sweetly.

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