Starlift Page #3

- Yes, I can see that.

Say, before the word gets around...

...and everybody in the terminal

comes out...

...suppose we all go over there.

- All right.

- All right.

Those guys sure messed things up.

Nell was gonna give me

a good luck charm.

Oh, that's nothing.

Ruth and Doris were about to kiss me.

Their four lips against my two.

Oh, what beautiful odds.

Your attention, please.

All personnel,

Military Air Transport Flight 92...

... report to Gate 1 immediately.

Your attention, please.

The overseas transports fly in

and out of here around the clock.

There's always a constant flow of men

to fill them.

You mean this isn't unusual?

No, it's pretty much the picture

any hour of the night or day.

RUTH:

Where will their next stop be?

Well, their destination

is the closest airfield to the front.

Two days from now, they'll be ready

to go into action with their units.

This waiting around to move out

is the one thing that gets them down.

There's nothing to do but just wait.

The hours drag

and they get pretty bored.

[PLAYING PIANO]

We even rigged this up.

Don't stop.

- Hi.

- Hi.

Hello.

- Gee, it sounds wonderful.

- Thank you.

That left hand sounds like it came from

a way down yonder in New Orleans.

- No, ma'am. Hoboken, New Jersey.

RUTH:
Oh?

Now you know that all good jazz

comes from Hoboken, New Jersey.

What was the name of that?

Oh, that was just a little thing

I sort of whipped up for myself.

- Well, don't just sit there. Un-whip it.

- All right.

Hi, fellas.

Look, this whole thing

is a surprise to us.

We didn't come prepared.

But we do have Doris Day.

How would you like to hear her

do a number?

Well, Hoboken,

what do we both know, huh?

MAN [O VER SPEAKERS]:

Attention, please.

All military personnel

for Special Flight 18...

... will depart on Flight 92.

Report to Gate 1 immediately.

That's me. I guess they just won't leave

without me.

I'm sorry, Miss Day.

- You mean you have to go right now?

- I sure do. I'm glad to have met you.

Report to Gate 1 immediately.

Goodbye, good luck.

Anybody here play piano?

MAN:
You don't need a piano.

- Well, I need something.

Hey, what's in the jukebox,

my friend?

- How about "'S Wonderful?"

- It's wonderful.

["'S WONDERFUL" PLAYS

ON JUKEBO X]

[SINGING]

Wonderful

It's marvelous

You should care for me

It's awful nice

It's paradise

It's what I love to see

You've made my life so glamorous

You can't blame me

For feeling amorous

Oh, it's wonderful

It's marvelous

That you should care for me

My dears, it's four-leaf clover time

From now on

My heart's workin' overtime

Oh, it's wonderful

It's so marvelous

That you should care for me

It's wonderful, marvelous, glorious

It's glamorous

That you should care for me.

MAN:

Your attention, please.

All personnel for Flight 77,

report to Gate 3 immediately.

- Your attention, please.

- Seventy-seven is Rick's flight.

We didn't even get a chance

to say goodbye.

Let's talk to the colonel.

I'm sure he can fix it.

- Yeah.

- Fine thing.

First my piano player,

then my audience walks out.

You know, I feel like

a second lieutenant up here.

Things ain't bad enough.

Now I gotta airlift those same guys...

...that fouled up

the most beautiful day of my life.

For 2 cents, I'd go back there

and really tell them off.

Here's a nickel.

- Oh, I don't wanna make a profit.

MAN 1:
Come on, come on, let's go.

MAN 2:

Fireguard on Number 3.

MAN 1:

Start Number 3.

It happens every time

we start an engine.

Here.

Ready to taxi.

MAN 3:
The colonel

wants Corporal Rick Williams.

Only take a minute.

Williams.

Hey, Williams.

- Get moving, the colonel wants you.

- Oh, yes, sir.

Hey, that's them.

- They must wanna see me too, sir.

- Say, you made a fast recovery.

Girls work better on me

than Dramamine.

Yeah, well just lie down again, Rover,

nobody asked for you.

Oh, skipper.

I almost missed you. In another minute,

you'd have been gone.

Well, gee, is this plane

being held up for me?

Well, us, with a little help

from Colonel Callan.

I couldn't let you get away

without this.

- I know it'll bring you luck.

MAN 1:
Hey, what are you waiting for?

Stop stalling, Romeo, kiss her.

Come on, corporal,

you're holding up the war.

- Once for me, corporal.

MAN 2:
Kiss her.

What are you waiting for?

- You want her to show you how?

- I think I know what they wanna see.

MAN 3:
Hey.

MAN 4:
Hey, Rick.

Hey, Rick.

- Bye.

- Bye.

Bye. Write me.

Tower to 77.

Runway 2-1, right, cleared for takeoff.

Where's that one from?

CALLAN:

Same place the other one left for.

Sort of like Grand Central Station,

isn't it?

CALLAN:

In a way.

The planes go out

carrying troops to the war zone.

Then they come back as hospital ships,

bringing the wounded home.

You've just told

some of the boys goodbye.

- How about telling some hello?

- Okay.

- Hi, colonel.

- Hello there.

- Don't remember me, do you?

- You do look familiar to me.

A week ago today, I was on the carpet

in your office.

Say, send that blond WAC around

and I'll apologize to her.

Hi, babes.

Drop up and see me sometime.

And I thought I was doing him a favor

by not putting him in the guardhouse.

- Well, hello.

- Well, hello. Welcome to California.

I sure am getting around.

Day before yesterday,

they put this cast on my arm in Tokyo.

- Really?

- But what am I doing in Hollywood?

- Oh, this isn't Hollywood.

- What are you doing here?

We're the reception committee.

Hey, here's something even

the draft board didn't even promise us.

You're only dreaming, boys, it isn't so.

Come on, over to the ambulance.

Seems as if we're snafuing the airlift.

See you fellas later.

Oh, colonel.

If John Wayne's up here,

have him see me later.

Colonel, what happens to them now?

Tomorrow or the next day...

...we'll fly them to the general hospital

that's closest to their homes.

That's the toughest waiting there is.

That waiting to get home.

It's a pity you have to get back

to San Francisco.

There are 3OO boys at that hospital

who didn't get a chance to see you.

- I'll flip you to see who calls the theater.

- I'll do it and I'll square you with Louella.

We're on.

MAN:

Right in here, boys.

Yeah, I think this spot's

about as good as any.

Set them up as soon as possible.

The girls will be along any minute.

Hey, what goes, sir?

Company's coming.

Female. And pretty.

Better get through with that shave.

Girls?

Hey, nurse.

Just a minute.

Mom, there's nothing to be

upset about.

Tomorrow, they're flying me

to an army hospital in Philadelphia.

I'll call you and you can come

and see for yourself.

Mom, will you let me talk to Joe?

Joe, will you please calm her down?

Now, don't you start it.

I tell you I'm okay.

CALLAN:

All right, fellas, here they are.

- Hi.

- Hi.

Holy mackerel.

Just drift around. You won't have

any trouble getting acquainted.

Joe? Doris Day's coming

straight at my bed.

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