Bride Flight

Here in London

we eagerly await the moment...

when the Duke of Gloucester

will start the air race...

from London to

Christchurch, New Zealand.

A distance

of more than 20,000 kilometres.

Journalists from all over the world

are here...

to report on this major event.

Who are the select few allowed

on board this race as passengers?

Who applied for emigration at the

same time KLM needed to fill its plane?

Most are young women

joining their fiancs,

who went on ahead of them

to start a new life in this unknown land.

Fleeing job and housing problems,

some having lost all

in the February flood disaster,

these people are now looking forward

to a much better life ahead.

Our Liftmaster

is racing down the runway.

And he's off. We have lift-off.

The race has begun.

Ladies and gentlemen,

we are flying at cruising speed.

We are two minutes

ahead of schedule already.

Do you have a light?

Did you see me at the airport?

- No.

I posed for the cover of Revue.

Dad's going to send me a copy.

Esther.

Frank.

Marjorie.

Look, you have to change

your name over there. Frank.

Ada van Holland.

- Ada van Holland?

Beautiful.

His name is Hans. Hans Doorman.

Isn't he handsome?

He has beautiful hands.

And you?

- I'm a fashion designer.

I've never been away from home before.

- Really?

Never.

All my family lives nearby.

I might never work.

We want to get married and have children

as soon as possible.

Have they been ordered?

What do you want?

- An estate. A large farm.

Are you from farming stock?

- No, my father was a doctor in Java.

Can I offer you this on behalf of KLM?

- Thank you.

Have you been to university?

- Agricultural college.

I wanted to go to Indonesia.

But that's no longer possible.

And Holland is too cold

so I thought I'd emigrate...

and start my own farm abroad.

What about you?

- I am.

I mean I'm from farming stock.

Have you seen this?

Isn't it gorgeous?

I think it's real silver.

Mrs Doorman speaking.

Esther? Yes.

This is the weather forecast for our

journey between Baghdad and Karachi.

There is a depression over Persia,

with storm clouds...

occasionally reaching 25,000 feet.

What's he saying?

What does it mean?

A plane like this is strong enough.

Don't say you want to leave.

- No, of course not.

You know Gran.

Cast or no cast,

she'll want to go to the funeral.

No, I agree.

Which is why I'll be going with her.

I thought you might like

to see your dad again,

and Gran and New Zealand of course.

Sydney's not all that far away.

You'll have to bring me some liquorice.

Lots of it.

Mum knows which ones I like.

Bob? Bob?

Bob?

For Hannah.

- Just imagine.

Come on.

You're really pretty.

Can't you sleep?

- If I had a figure like yours...

Dior. And lavish amounts of material.

Can I design a wedding dress for you?

Are you getting married?

Hang on.

Would you like to try on my dress?

I'll make you one if you like.

- I don't know whether Derk...

If you've got it, flaunt it. Why not?

Wait a minute. A petticoat.

Esther said...

May I?

Leave it.

Leave it.

Ada van Holland.

Yes?

What are you up to?

Back! Go back!

Ladies and gentlemen,

welcome in Karachi.

The captain hopes

you weren't too frightened.

That would be a pity.

Madam, you can't leave the plane.

This is costing us valuable minutes.

Sorry.

I quit.

- Would you rather live in Pakistan?

Ouch. Hot.

I'm not letting you go.

Stay with me?

- Rut me down.

You can think it over,

just say yes first.

I am married.

What?

I was married by proxy.

He has the rings over there.

For the wedding ceremony.

And a different dress.

- By proxy?

Why?

- He's in New Zealand already. Derk.

Do you love him?

What did the kiss mean?

- I don't know him very well.

Couldn't you have waited?

You couldn't wait?

You're pregnant.

He comes from Oude Tonge.

He has no one else. They all drowned.

I saw him at our church...

and one time he showed me

where his house was,

and then he started to cry.

It scared me to death.

I didn't know what to do.

What was I supposed to do?

Comfort him.

It just happened.

It shouldn't have, but it did.

Behind the mill.

I know I'll be punished for it.

Or my children will because of me.

What makes you think that?

What I did is a sin. A terrible sin.

It's not. It's lovely.

Really sweet.

You've been cheating all night.

For me, for me.

Hey. How about lending a hand?

We have now started our descent.

We expect

to be able to see New Zealand...

once we are through the clouds.

Clouds? I thought it was

supposed to be sunny all the time.

Magnificent, can you see?

Here it is.

Ada van Holland.

Make sure you're happy.

We're here. We have broken

the 1946 flying record...

by ten hours. We have won the race.

Holland has won.

Is that them? I've heard of them.

I never expected them to look like that.

No, no, no. Here.

Stop. That's it there.

Look, Druivebloed.

Do you remember what it looked like?

- Not really.

Druivebloed.

How would they pronounce that here?

Come on. Are you okay?

- Yes.

Bag.

- Thank you.

Bye.

Will you be back in time?

- If Hannah's plane has no delay.

Esther?

Marjorie.

- Yes.

Hey. Yes, that's broken.

Men never bring flowers here.

So they instantly knew I was Dutch.

I've given three interviews already.

I had forgotten... Were you...

Have you grown?

Oh, sorry.

Minister, this is Ada.

Ada, Minister Houtsma.

- Yes.

Good.

Welcome to our small parish.

We've got our own parish.

We didn't like the Presbyterian one.

They're uninspired and sing in English.

Did you have a good flight?

- Yes.

Aren't we going to...

Aren't we going to wait...

I got us a truck.

An absolute bargain it was.

Down here they take an old car,

saw the back off

and build a loading platform.

People here improvise.

Ada?

The Minister can't drive.

And I could hardly let him sit here, so...

Everything okay?

Yes.

It can get cold in the Arthur's Pass.

How long's the drive?

- Five hours or so, maybe six.

Well, this is pleasant.

It's a Sunday morning.

Dad's got to send money

so I can go back.

I've made arrangements.

Did you bring anything else?

Something less...

I'm not sure they...

- Who?

Mr and Mrs Jottkowitz.

From the boarding house.

Jottkowitz?

- The Rabbi's family.

I'll see.

It would be good if you could change,

because I don't know...

We can walk if you want.

It isn't far.

I'm going to go to the hotel.

I'm too tired. I need some sleep.

I can't be on my best

Jewish behaviour now. I'm exhausted.

When shall we meet?

- Tomorrow. Plenty of time.

What time? Where?

We go round the back.

Only snobs use the front door here.

Margo?

And?

- Did you see what that man's wearing?

They're relaxed about everything here.

Laid back is the term they use.

They're just very nice.

They don't laugh if you make a mistake.

What's happened to your hands?

So rough. And coarse.

I'll pick you up in the morning.

Ada?

Ada?

I'm coming.

If it does not please you

to serve the Lord,

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