MovieReal: The Aviator Page #2

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Minute we fire her up, the struts

start cracking at the attach points.

- Well, what's the good news?

- There isn't any.

Goddamn it, Odie. If the 450's too big,

we figure something else out.

We've done everything.

We've rebuilt her from top to toe.

If we drain the fuel tank...

...she might make 180 miles per hour.

- I want minimum 200, all right?

I want a date with Theda Bara.

That ain't gonna happen.

Oh, don't be so sure.

If the struts won't sustain the engine

we need, we gotta get rid of the struts.

No, then the top wing falls off.

Then let it.

What?

Who says we need a top wing?

I mean, who says we need anything?

- A monoplane.

- A cantilevered monoplane, right?

They're doing it in France.

To hell with the top wing and struts.

- A 550 Wasp engine.

- One-hundred-octane fuel.

- That would give us a horsepower of what?

- Seven hundred.

We squeeze that to a thousand,

we got the fastest plane ever built.

You know, I've gotta say...

...we've already spent over $200,000

rebuilding this plane.

To hell with it.

Tear it up, Odie.

Go on.

Well...

The cumulonimbus formations

about which you speak...

...that look like...

Giant breasts full of milk.

I want clouds, damn it.

Yes, clouds...

...that look like

giant breasts full of milk...

...cannot exactly be guaranteed

for any particular occasion.

So you might have to...

To wait.

Then we'll wait.

Look, whatever they pay

you at UCLA...

...I'm doubling it, all right?

You work for me now. Find some clouds.

Find some clouds.

Find me some clouds!

Welcome to Hell's Angels.

Thank you.

I've been to Chatsworth,

Santa Cruz, Encino, San Diego...

...Riverside, Van Nuys and Bakersfield.

It has been eight months!

Where are my goddamn clouds, huh?

They move, Mr. Hughes!

Clouds move.

- That's what they do. They move!

- You see that?

It is costing me $5271 a day...

...to keep those planes on the ground.

You find me some goddamn clouds, huh?

Nice day.

Yeah, very funny.

I got a call from Houston.

They're getting nervous.

Stop showing them the damn bills.

That would be illegal.

Sh*t, no.

Maybe it's a little bit naughty.

Hughes Tool is incorporated in Texas.

They have to see the bills.

Incorporate a new division out here.

We'll call it Hughes Aircraft.

- Do we need these rivets on the cowling?

- Yeah, or the reverse thrust would rip it off.

They're gonna give me drag.

Do something about that.

- Wind resistance on rivets?

- I want her slippery.

There are tax consequences

to incorporating in California.

- Just take care of it, would you?

- Mr. Hughes!

Oakland!

- We have clouds in Oakland!

- You mean it this time?

Yes!

Goddamn it, yes.

I can promise you.

- Clouds in Oakland.

- All right, don't get all jittery now.

Oakland!

Oakland!

We're going to Oakland!

Oakland.

Down and to the left!

That's perfect!

That's right, Senator George.

Yes, young Howard Hughes

has pulled it off!

After two years, Hell's Angels

has finally finished filming.

There's gonna be one heck

of a wrap party in Hollywood tonight.

The price tag?

A staggering $ 2 million.

If every human being

in America buys a ticket...

... he might even make a profit.

First, clouds don't come.

Then planes break down.

Then the planes crash.

We've had everything but

a plague of locusts on this thing.

I mean, you have to admit.

Now, honestly, did you ever think

you'd actually finish the damn thing?

Come with me.

Mama, darling,

if I'm a success in this show...

- ... we're gonna move from here.

- Oh, no.

Yes.

We're gonna move up in the Bronx.

Green grass,

a lot of people you know.

The Ginsbergs,

the Guttenbergs and the Goldbergs.

Oh, a whole lot of "bergs."

I don't know them all.

See, this is what the people want.

Silent pictures are yesterday's news.

So I figure we gotta reshoot

Hell's Angels for sound.

How much of it?

All of it.

Before you ask, I'll tell you.

An additional 1.7 million.

We got that much?

- No!

- Well, we'll make it.

Take care of that, would you?

Now, get this.

In the halls of 7000 Romaine...

... it goes on day after day,

month after month.

Howard Hughes is now editing

some 25 miles of film.

Heck, I say release it now and give

the world its first 560-hour movie.

Pat, Mr. Hughes needs this reel

in the projection room right now!

Enough is enough, Mr. Hughes.

Are you ever gonna let us

actually see this epic of yours?

Hurry up!

- Who is it?

- Noah.

Come on in.

I've been on the phone

to Houston for three hours.

- We're fixing every goddamn book we have.

- Wait, wait.

Yeah. Run reel 10 again.

I think we're duplicating a shot here.

And tell Jimmy I want

Medium chips,

none too close to the outside.

Got it?

You remember

that goddamn shot from reel 10?

No. I don't remember

anything from reel 10.

I don't know what reel 10 is.

I'm a businessman, Howard.

And so are you.

Now, look.

This has been a great ride.

We've had a hell of a lot of fun.

But you're losing

$25,000 a day doing this.

Every day.

So, what are my options?

Well, this time I don't know

that you have any.

I'm afraid you gotta close it down.

Dig your way out.

I'm sorry, Howard.

I truly am.

Reel 10, Mr. Hughes.

Mortgage Tool Co.

- Every asset. You heard me.

- Lf you do that, you could lose everything.

Well, I won't.

I won't.

All right.

I'll get into it.

Thanks, Noah.

More than half a million souls lining

the curb of Hollywood Boulevard.

Look at the automobiles!

There are 45,000 cars here,

making it the greatest traffic jam ever seen.

Howard Hughes must have

a lump in his throat.

Six months after the stock market crashes

and after three pilots' deaths...

... he's finally unveiling his

$4 million baby doll.

It's the most expensive movie ever made.

Nothing five-and-dime for our Mr. Hughes.

Nothing like tonight has ever been

seen before, and I can say...

... it will never be seen again.

Five hundred thousand people are crowding

the streets to get a glimpse of the stars.

Three companies of Marines

were called to assist...

... the 250 special police who are

handling this enormous crowd...

This is an industry town.

And nobody but nobody

makes a movie outside a studio.

Some Hollywood insiders over

at the Brown Derby may be laughing...

And now, I think...

Yes, yes, I can see

Mr. Hughes' car arriving now.

Mr. Hughes escorts

the lovely starlet Jean Harlow.

He discovered her for this picture,

and we think her platinum blond locks...

... and hot-jazz, baby-doll style

are gonna make her a big star.

Howard! Howard!

Over here!

- This way, boss. Right over there.

- Mr. Hughes, how about a word?

Big night for you, Mr. Hughes.

Big night for you tonight.

Very big. Very big.

Tell us what it was like

making this fabulous picture.

Yes.

Yeah.

So 4 million clams

from your own pocket.

Nervous how the flick will fly?

Big night. You enjoy the show.

Yes, well, let me present the feminine

star of this spectacle, Hell's Angels...

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