Memphis Belle Page #4

DENNIS:

Les, what are you doing here?

You're my ground crew chief.

You're supposed to be working on

my plane.

LES:

Sir, I'm just helping out...

(CONTINUED)

19.

CONTINUED:

DENNIS:

You should be giving the

supercharger on Number One your...

LES:

Supercharger's fixed.

DENNIS:

Okay, but how about the cowl flaps

on...

LES:

Number three's fixed. It's all

fixed. You don't have to tell me

my job, Captain. Watch your feet.

A dark red pool is gathering right at Dennis feet.

Dennis looks down, sees it and steps away.

LES:

The Belle's in mint condition. If

you don't believe me, go look at

her. She's out on the apron, Sir.

Les turns back to work. A moment. Dennis knows he

jumped on Les a little too fast, but he also doesn't

want to apologize. He turns and goes out the door.

EXT. MEMPHIS BELLE - NIGHT

We see only the vague outline of the Belle through the

fog as Dennis approaches. He stops in front of the nose

and speaks to the plane.

DENNIS:

Well, I'm going to miss you, girl.

We've been together a long time

and you've never let me down. I

can't say that about many people.

You know how to take care of your

man and that's just about the best

thing a fellow can say about a

girl, I guess. Maybe we'll be

going back to the States together,

but it won't be the same, will it?

It won't have the same...

He searches for the word, can't find it, then starts to

take a drink. But he decides he's had enough and pours

the rest of the beer on the ground. He turns and walks

back across the field to the dance. Then a head pops up

and looks out through the nose of the plane: Virge.

FAITH (O.S.)

I wish you'd talk to me like that,

Virge.

20.

INT. NOSE - NIGHT

Looking forward, we see Virge and Faith in silhouette.

They've put something down on the floor of the plane as

a makeshift bed, perhaps some parachutes.

VIRGE:

You know what the captain would do

if he caught us in here? He'd

murder me. Come on, Faith, let's

get this over with and get back

to the dance.

They try to get it going again.

FAITH:

Wait, there's something... Hold

on. There! Sorry.

Faith pulls something out from under her. Virge grabs

it.

VIRGE:

My wrench! I've been looking for

that all over! Where'd you find

it?

FAITH:

Under my bum.

VIRGE:

Oh, thanks. Boy, I thought

someone stole it.

FAITH:

Virge, forget the bloody wrench.

She grabs him and kisses him. A CLUNK as he drops the

WRENCH and kisses her back.

FAITH:

You've never done this before,

have you?

VIRGE:

Why, am I doing something wrong?

FAITH:

No. You're doing everything just

right.

He embraces her and kisses her.

18A EXT. HANGAR - NIGHT

Virge and Faith are near the hangar door. He kisses her.

(CONTINUED)

21.

18A CONTINUED:

FAITH:

That was...

VIRGE:

Yeah, it really was.

Awkward pause.

FAITH:

I wouldn't want this to get around.

VIRGE:

Around?

FAITH:

I know what you Yanks are like,

always bragging about your women.

VIRGE:

Oh, no! Gosh, I wouldn't... Not

if you...

FAITH:

Thanks. Well...

She smiles, touches his face.

FAITH:

Maybe I'll pop 'round for a

hamburger some day.

She turns and goes back into the hangar. Virge starts

to go with her. She puts a hand on his arm.

FAITH:

I'll go in first, if that's...

VIRGE:

Oh, sure! Go right ahead.

She smiles at him, then goes into the hangar. Virge

watches her go in. Then, when he's alone, he takes a

deep breath, then howls at the moon.

INT. HANGAR - NIGHT

The party is in full swing. Everyone's having a great

time.

CUT TO:

(CONTINUED)

22.

CONTINUED:

CO:

sitting at a table with his men -- but he's remote,

lost in his own thoughts. He knows that some of these

men will die over Germany tomorrow and the thought makes

it impossible for him to join in the fun.

CUT TO:

BUFFET TABLE:

Food and coffee are set out. Danny, Jack and Eugene are

eating while Rascal holds court with a group of fresh-

faced rookies. One of them, the ROOKIE, is their

spokesman.

RASCAL:

That yours, that brand new plane

out there?

ROOKIE:

Yeah. Mother and Country.

RASCAL:

(patronizingly)

Mother and Country.

He looks at Jack and Eugene and they sigh.

RASCAL, JACK & EUGENE

Ahhh...

JACK:

Ain't that sweet?

EUGENE:

Brings a tear to the eye.

ROOKIE:

We had our first practice today.

DANNY:

How'd it go?

ROOKIE:

(smiles)

We need a couple more. If you

guys have any advice for us or

anything...

JACK:

Get a gun, shoot your big toe

off and go home.

(CONTINUED)

23.

19 CONTINUED:
(2)

EUGENE:

That's good advice.

RASCAL:

Hallelujah, brother.

DANNY:

Come on, guys.

Rascal puts an arm around the Rookie and looks down at

the Rookie's shiny shoes.

RASCAL:

Are those size eight? How about

leaving a little will saying when

you get your ass shot off on your

first mission, those nice shiny

new pumps come to me?

The Rookie turns pale and breaks away from Rascal. He

runs out the door. Rascal chuckles.

DANNY:

Rascal...

20 INT. LATRINE - NIGHT

Danny comes into the latrine. The fresh-faced Rookie is

bent over one of the toilet bowls, having just thrown up.

He's pale and woozy.

DANNY:

You okay?

ROOKIE:

Yeah. Nerves, I guess.

Danny fills a tin cup with water and takes it over to

him.

DANNY:

They were just fooling around.

Don't worry about it. Everyone

gets kidding like that at first.

ROOKIE:

I give anything to be in your

shoes. One more and you get to

go home.

(CONTINUED)

24.

CONTINUED:

DANNY:

Sometimes I wish I could stay.

Sounds crazy, but I'm used to it

here. And the guys are like

brothers to me. I never had

brothers. Four sisters.

(laughs)

When we go back home, I don't know

when we're going to get together

again. We come from all over. I

guess that's why I keep taking

their pictures.

He looks down at his camera, winds it.

DANNY:

That's the way you'll be with your

crew. Here.

Danny reaches into his breast pocket and takes out the

four-leaf clover and holds it out to the Rookie. He

takes it.

INT. AIRPLANE HANGAR - NIGHT

Danny and the Rookie join Jack, Eugene, Rascal and

Clay just as the band is ending a number.

DANNY:

Clay, now's your chance! Get up

there and sing!

CLAY:

Uh-huh. I'm not gonna make a

fool of myself in front of all

these folks.

EUGENE:

Come on, you're a great singer.

There's a fanfare from the band. Bruce gets up onstage

and speaks into the microphone. He's enthusiastic and is

blind to the fact that what he's saying is bad luck.

BRUCE:

Ladies and gentlemen... There's

ten very special men here tonight.

I'm sure you know who I mean. The

crew of the Memphis Belle.

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