Flying Home Page #5

It's their first time out.

Actually, the entire wing is full of birds.

The very best money can buy.

Please follow me.

Mr. Montgomery,

how good to see you here.

Good to see you again.

This is Mr. Conrad.

I race my European

pigeons from his loft.

- Pleasure to meet you.

- Hello.

You must be very good.

I do my best.

But the competition is very tough.

Would you like some tea?

Thank you.

I heard you were in Belgium.

Yes, I was visiting Jos Pauwels.

Interesting.

How is he doing?

Well, as a matter of fact,

I wanted to talk to you about

something that concerns him.

If you will excuse me,

I have to tend to the pigeons.

Seems to me your pigeons

are in excellent hands.

Yes.

If only we could have better results.

I was wondering if we could talk about

the pigeon I recently acquired for you.

I hope you found my gratitude

to be sufficiently generous?

Yes, very generous. Thank you.

It's just that I recently discovered

that the ties between a fancier

and his bird can be very intense.

Oh, yes, very much so.

That's why I...

I was wondering if you

would reconsider Wittekop.

What do you mean, reconsider?

Mr. Pauwels really

regrets his decision. A lot.

I'm not surprised. That bird is amazing.

And it's going to stay with

me until the day it dies.

I have to run.

I hope you'll stay for the night.

Maybe I could use your advice

in a few financial matters.

Of course.

- Is Colin here?

- No. Why?

That's a pity.

You can't imagine what I've discovered

about his great-grandfather.

It's, it's... just unbelievable.

That's Colin's great-grandfather.

He looks a lot like Colin.

And that picture was taken

near the Cloth Hall in Ypres.

Do you see that truck in the background?

Look here.

That's the same truck.

Look closely at it.

It's full of pigeons.

That's a rolling pigeon loft.

Because pigeons were crucial to

communication in World War One.

And the men who took

care of those pigeons

were called the Pigeoneers.

And now... Hold on.

Here.

Now have a close look at what's

standing behind that soldier's leg.

Do you see?

That's a pigeon basket.

Colin's great-grandfather

was a Pigeoneer.

- Where's Wittekop?

- He's racing.

In the Barcelona International.

I want to talk to the Sheikh.

Now. I want to talk to him now.

What's the matter?

What were you doing in my loft?

I tricked Jos Pauwels into

selling Wittekop to you.

What do you mean, you tricked him?

I forced him into selling

by threatening to destroy something

very dear to him and his granddaughter.

- Does Mr. Walden know about this?

- No.

You have to give that bird

back to its rightful owner.

Mr. Pauwels is heartbroken

because of what I did.

I want you to leave the estate.

Right now.

Are you leaving?

Yeah, I'm going back to New York.

- No. You can't.

- Why not?

Because I was looking for you

everywhere yesterday.

I think that I know where your

great-grandfather is buried.

- Do you know who Cher Ami is?

- No.

Cher Ami was a famous war pigeon.

He saved 600 British

soldiers in the Great War.

It's... It's an incredible story.

The British soldiers,

they were lost in enemy territory.

And their only hope of survival

was their last pigeon, Cher Ami.

And the Germans, they saw the

bird take off and they opened fire.

And it was hit several times,

but it kept on going.

And it arrived at the

command post, one eye shot out,

a bullet in his breast

and most of the leg

that had the message

capsule attached missing.

But the soldiers were saved.

And Cher Ami, he received an Honorary

Service Cross and after he died,

a small statue was mounted in its honor

on a little cemetery here.

And I'm convinced that your

great-grandfather is resting there.

Good morning. Could I speak

to Mr. Pauwels, please?

What can I do for you?

Mr. Pauwels, it's an honor for me to meet

such a great pigeon fancier as yourself.

I was wondering if we could

have a word together.

You have already what you want, no?

That's exactly what I wanted

to talk to you about.

Come inside.

Would you like some sugar?

Three teaspoons, please.

I'm sorry to intrude in such an early hour,

but I'd like to be back in Euskirchen

when my birds return from Barcelona.

- Wittekop is racing also.

- What?

You're racing him in the Barcelona?

Why not?

You don't race a bird that comes from

another loft over such a great distance.

- It will get lost.

- Wittekop can do it.

Who says so?

You'd never take the risk if

you would care for that bird.

What is it with you people?

You think I'm a heartless person?

Yes. You and your friend,

Mr. Montgomery.

My grandfather is heartbroken

because he has lost his bird.

I know that. Mr. Montgomery

has told me this last night.

He was with you, was he?

Were you two celebrating on how you fooled

a couple of simple-minded Belgians?

Quite the opposite.

He came to try and convince me to

return Wittekop to your grandfather.

He says you never intended

to sell it. Is that correct?

Yes. It is, yeah.

He also says he tricked you

into selling the bird to me.

He did.

What a fool.

He must realize this will be the

end of his promising career.

He must care for you a

great deal, Mr. Pauwels.

I'm not so sure that I'm

the one he cares about.

Do you know where he is now?

No.

I kicked him off my property last night.

I'd go and look for him if I were you.

Where is she going?

She flies to the one she loves.

- Is Colin here?

- No.

He packed his bags

this morning and left.

- Where to?

- Back to New York, he said.

I told him I think I know which cemetery

his great-grandfather is buried at,

but he didn't seem to care anymore.

- Which cemetery?

- Croonaert Chapel Cemetery.

- Yes, but where is it?

- Right here, in Heuvelland.

Do you want my moped?

Is this the grave?

Yeah, this one right here.

Stewart Montgomery?

I'm not the guy you think I am.

Yes, you are.

You're exactly the guy I think you are.

I'm happy to see you.

He's at least an hour and a half early.

Yeah.

He did a great time,

but he flew to the wrong loft.

So he will be disqualified.

Then let's try again next year.

Do you accept my proposal?

Shall we work together in the future?

He can live here?

This is his home.

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