The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell Page #3

to headquarters.

I write one every day.

Sometimes two.

Ah.

Billy, they just put up

a new building in Washington

for letters like that.

It's built in the shape

of a wastepaper basket.

I'm the man

that can fill it.

It's disgraceful

what they're doing

to you, Billy.

You may not know it,

but you've got

plenty of friends,

and I'm speaking

for all of them.

Give us the word, and--

I'm sorry, Frank, but politics

and the army don't mix.

All right, if you can't

tolerate politics in the army,

how about outside the army?

Why don't you quit

and run for the Senate?

Wisconsin would elect you.

You could take

your father's old seat.

He was a great senator,

and you'd be

every bit as good.

With you in the Senate

and me in the House,

we'd squeeze an air service

out of them that'd

blacken the sky with planes.

I'm not a politician,

Frank.

I don't want to

turn the air service

into a political football.

Besides, how would I look

in a winged collar

and a frock coat?

I'd look great,

wouldn't I?

Billy Mitchell,

I don't know why

I bother with you.

You won't do anything

that makes sense.

We're both professional men.

You work by your rules.

Let me work by mine.

Some rules.

It's the same set of rules

that has your boys falling out

of the sky in flaming coffins.

They're dying

by those rules.

But at least

they go quick.

You're just

sitting around here

rotting away.

[ Chuckles ]

I must be too stupid

to understand the military mind.

I guess you have to be

born with one.

[ Door Opens,

Closes ]

Well...

so long, Billy.

Don't get

writer's cramp.

Sergeant,

cancel my reservation

to Milwaukee.

Yes, sir.

Check the train schedules

to Washington, D.C.

I'm taking my leave

there.

Good afternoon, sir.

How do things look

today?

Not very good, I'm afraid.

Now, listen here.

For two weeks

I've been trying

to see General Pershing,

and for two weeks you've been

telling me to come around again

in a couple of days.

I want

a definite appointment

with the general,

and I want to

talk to him today.

I'm sorry, sir.

General Pershing

has been very busy.

If I may suggest you try

some other department--

You told me that before.

And I've tried.

They've all referred me

back here.

Gen. Pershing

is the only one

who can help me.

Colonel, a great many people

want to see the general.

You must realize his time

is extremely valuable.

I'm here to try to

save lives, not time.

And if you'll forgive me

for saying so, Colonel,

I think the lives of flyers

are equally as important

as the general's time.

Gen. Pershing has an important

staff meeting scheduled

for the remainder of the day.

Thank you, Colonel.

You're welcome, sir.

Hello,

General Pershing.

I'm glad

I ran into you.

I have nothing

to say to you, Billy.

[ Doorbell Buzzes ]

Billy!

Hello, Margaret.

Well, there's been

a few improvements.

Including you.

You're prettier than ever.

How's Zach?

He's fine.

He'll be home later.

Oh, my, it's good

to see you again.

We've missed you.

And needed you.

I'll set another place.

Can't stay for dinner.

I have to catch a train

for Texas.

We heard you were in Washington.

I tried to drop around sooner,

but I couldn't

get off the flypaper.

I hope our army

is as invincible in the field

as it is in its offices.

Yes, I know.

Zach's been after

the navy department...

about theShenandoah.

They want him

to take it

to Detroit,

to a state fair.

Is that old river cow

still around?

[ Door Opening ]

Hi, honey.

Hello, darling.

Billy!

Gee, I'm glad to see you.

I called the club.

How are you?

You're looking

great.

Feeling fine.

Except for a couple

of sore feet

and a slightly sore head.

Yeah, I heard.

It's a shame.

How do you happen

to be home so early, Zach?

Orders came through.

What orders?

We're taking theShenandoahup

in the morning.

Oh, no!

It'll be all right, honey.

Don't worry.

But you said you wouldn't

take her up again.

I did everything I could.

I kept arguing

till the order came through.

You can't stop now.

You said you'd never take

her up this time of year.

Honey, I've got my orders.

I'd understand

if it were a war

or even a maneuver,

but they're

just doing it

for publicity.

The publicity's

supposed to make Congress

vote us money.

Please tell him not to go.

You're the only one

he'll listen to.

Margaret, please--

Don't worry about it,

Margaret.

It's a lousy balloon,

but it'll have

a good crew aboard...

and a good skipper.

Besides, if the navy's

not worrying about it,

why should you?

Look, I've got

to run now.

I'll be back for another

crack at Washington

in a few months,

and we'll-- we'll have

a real reunion then, hmm?

Do you have

a car outside?

No.

I'll help you

flag a cab.

Good-bye,

Margaret.

[ Zach ]

Be right back, honey.

[ Door Opens ]

How bad is

theShenandoah?

In this weather,

it's a deathtrap.

Then why do you

take it up?

I've got my orders.

You could disobey them.

Are you

out of your mind?

No.

But you are, if you

follow orders that send you

and your crew to your deaths.

Billy, you know

better than that.

If I refuse to go up,

then I'm relieved of command

and get a general court.

Someone else takes her up.

What have I accomplished?

At least you'll have

brought attention to the fact

that the flight is unsafe.

That isn't the point.

Drawing attention to it

isn't gonna save the men.

And I'm better qualified

to fly my ship than

any replacement would be.

Zach, don't you see?

If you refuse to take

that thing up,

there'll be

such an unholy row

that it might never take off.

Yeah, maybe.

But why should I

stick my neck out...

on the improbable chance

that they might

ground the ship?

No, it doesn't make sense.

What's your neck compared to

the whole future of aviation?

How much are you doing

for the future of aviation

buried in Texas?

Never mind about me.

We're talking

about you.

Mm-hmm.

Well, there's not much

I could do...

if I were court-martialed

and dismissed

from the service.

There'll be

no service left...

unless people know

how bad things are,

unless it's shown to them.

You must think that over.

I don't have to

think it over.

I've got my orders.

This flight

has been studied out.

They're taking

a calculated risk.

"Calculated risk"?

Uh--

You're staking

the lives of your crew...

to protect your career

in the navy.

Oh, hello, Billy.

Sit down.

Sit down.

Terrible thing,

thisShenandoahbusiness.

It's all over

the front pages.

Makes all the services

look bad.

Tough enough

getting recruits

as it is.

What did you want to

see me about, Billy?

I request

the general's

permission...

to attend the funeral

of Cmdr. Zachary Lansdowne

at Arlington Cemetery.

Was he a friend of yours?

A close friend, sir.

Why, sure, sure.

Go ahead.

Emergency leave

granted.

Thank you, sir.

Oh, wait a minute, Billy.

You're one of

those flyboys yourself.

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