Memphis Belle Page #22

AMBULANCE DRIVER

Wounded aboard! Let's go!

They quickly hop into the ambulance cab.

127.

343 EXT. CONTROL TOWER - LAWN

Les, with the ground crew. In the background, men are

coming from all over the base to watch the plane land.

LES:

My God, they've only got one

wheel down!

344 INT. BOMB BAY

Virge is exhausted from turning the crank. He steps

aside and Jack takes over.

344A EXT. MEMPHIS BELLE

The right wheel is very slowly creeping down. It has a

long way to go.

345 INT. COCKPIT

The runway is ahead. Dennis is gripping the control

wheel tight as he aims the plane for the runway. Luke

is fastening his seat belt when there's a sudden jolt,

then complete silence. Luke looks out the left window.

LUKE:

We lost Number One!

The plane suddenly loses altitude, the nose dips down

and points straight at the runway. Dennis pulls at the

control wheel.

DENNIS:

Flaps!

Luke spins the flap controls.

346 INT. BOMB BAY

Virge hears the silence and knows what happened. He

shouts at Jack.

VIRGE:

Hurry!

Jack turns the crank faster.

346A EXT. MEMPHIS BELLE

The wheels are extended further, but still not enough to

land on.

128.

347 INT. RADIO ROOM

Val is cradling Danny, to protect him from the crash.

The others are braced against the bulkhead walls.

Eugene's praying as fast as he can.

348 EXT. RUNWAY

The Belle dives for the runway.

349 EXT. CONTROL TOWER - LAWN

Les watches, muttering under his breath.

LES:

Come on, baby, come on...

350 EXT. CONTROL TOWER BALCONY

The CO grips the railing, with white knuckles.

350A

INT. COCKPIT

Dennis is gripping the control wheel as the plane dives.

351

OMITTED:

352

INT. BOMB BAY

Jack is exhausted, out of breath. He's turning the

crank slower and slower. Phil shoves him out of the way

and takes over the crank, turning it as fast as he can.

He talks to himself as he does.

PHIL:

We're not going to die. It's

okay. We're not going to die!

353

EXT. RUNWAY

Just when it looks certain to crash, the nose of the

Belle lifts, the landing gear pop out with an audible

CLICK and hit the runway, hard. The plane bounces into

the air.

354

INT. RADIO ROOM

The crew is jolted. Danny wakes. He looks up at Val,

panicked, not knowing where he is or what's happening.

129.

355 EXT. MEMPHIS BELLE

The plane tips to the right and looks like it'll come down

on its right wing.

356 INT. COCKPIT

Dennis wrestles with the control column. Luke works the

flap controls. They're instinctively a team.

357 EXT. MEMPHIS BELLE

The plane straightens and lands. The flaps come up and

the plane goes onto the grass, throwing dust into the air.

358 EXT. CONTROL TOWER - LAWN

The men on the lawn cheer. They surround Les and the

ground crew and congratulate them.

359 INT. RADIO ROOM

Clay, Rascal and Eugene cheer and ruffle Danny's hair.

359A INT. BOMB BAY

Virge, Jack and Phil realize that they made it and shout

with excietment.

360 EXT. RUNWAY

The plane comes to a stop at the far end of the runway.

The ambulance races towards it.

361 EXT. CONTROL TOWER BALCONY

The CO lets go the railing, relieved. He turns to go

back inside. The Adjutant takes a step back, a little

afraid of him. But the CO smiles, pats the Adjutant's

arm affectionately, then goes inside -- back to work.

362 INT. WAIST

Rascal opens the waist door. The Ambulance Drivers are

there. He steps aside and they enter the plane,

carrying a stretcher, a medical kit, an IV bottle.

130.

363 EXT. CONTROL TOWER - LAWN

The photographer is snapping pictures. Bruce yells at

him.

BRUCE:

I don't want that Goddamn

ambulance in there!

364 INT. COCKPIT

Dennis and Luke quickly flip off the power and fuel

controls.

Wing flaps.

Up.

Tail wheel.

Unlocked.

Generators.

Off.

DENNIS:

LUKE:

DENNIS:

LUKE:

DENNIS:

LUKE:

They're finished. Silence. They don't know what to do

with themselves. Then Luke unhooks his seat belt and

gets up and goes through the top turret into the bomb

bay. But Dennis just sits there.

365 EXT. RUNWAY

Danny is conscious, pale, but looking better. He's

hooked up to an IV, which Val holds. The rest of the

crew is with them, under the nose of the plane. Danny

clutches his camera.

VAL:

One picture, Danny, then straight

to the hospital.

DANNY:

(weakly)

You're the doc.

Val smiles. Bruce starts arranging their positions while

the photographer sets up his tripod.

(CONTINUED)

131.

365 CONTINUED:

BRUCE:

Let's have the officers in the

center. Luke, I want you down

front...

LUKE:

Bruce, just take the picture.

He takes Danny's camera and tosses it to Bruce. Bruce

catches it, too surprised to object.

DANNY:

Where's the captain?

PHIL:

Yeah, where is Dennis?

RASCAL:

We've got to have Dennis in the

picture.

Dennis appears around the nose of the plane. He holds the

bottle of champagne. He walks towards the crew, a grim

expression on his face. The crew shifts uneasily. Dennis

stops right in front of Danny and looks at him. Danny

thinks he's in big trouble. Then, suddenly, Dennis whoops

with joy and pops the cork. Champagne spurts out and

Dennis douses the crew with it. The crew is amazed -this

is a new Dennis. They laugh, try to duck the suds,

and Bruce takes the picture. FREEZE FRAME. The picture

FADES TO black and white as a LEGEND ROLLS OVER it.

LEGEND:

The air war over Europe lasted six

years. 353,000 young men lost

their lives.

OVER the credits we see more of the pictures Danny took:

at the dance, in the barracks, in the plane -- his

permanent record of the last mission.

FADE OUT.

THE END:

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