The Dawn Patrol Page #6

against Von Richter.

They haven't even the first idea

of combat tactics. Green kids.

- We sent the best men we have.

- Yes, I know, sir.

- But this job's--

- It's the best we can do.

- What do you expect us to do?

- Yes, sir.

- May I go on?

- Well?

If I could have a week with them,

a few days to teach them some things.

Show them a few tricks so they'll be

of use before they get killed--

Don't bother me again about this.

Do as you're told. Goodbye.

I know it's against the rules and regulations

to burst into your sanctum sanctorum...

...but could I have just one word with you,

please, Court?

Of course you could, Donnie.

- Good old Court.

- I'm glad you came. What is it?

Well, I wish Scott-o and you

wouldn't scrap about me like this.

Honestly, I'm an excellent flier.

I've had combat maneuvers--

Combat maneuvers, have you?

Now, don't you laugh too.

Scotty lost his head completely.

- Oh, we all do here sometimes.

- Yes, of course.

Your nerves get jumpy.

A lot of fellas bunched together.

Scotty's responsible

for the other fliers.

When he sees me fly,

he won't worry then.

It's not just a question of flying. You see,

you're gonna be up against veterans.

Fliers like Von Richter.

Are you trying to say that,

that you think I won't get back tomorrow?

No, no. There's nothing so terribly difficult

about combat flying...

...except remember that Scotty

and those fellows have had experience.

They're old hands.

You can't afford to be too careless

or overconfident at first.

It's rather like a game at school. You gotta

be on your toes, watch everything.

Never forget anything you learn.

- You won't have any trouble.

- I'm glad to hear you say that.

It's true.

When you go out tomorrow,

you stick close to Scotty.

Watch everything he does.

See the way he handles his ship.

- He is a fine flier, isn't he, Court?

- The best.

- Do you smoke?

- Yes, sir.

Oh, thanks, Court.

You know, I liked your comparison

about this and a game at school.

Did you? That's just about what it is.

Great, big, noisy, rather stupid game

that doesn't make any sense at all.

None of us know

what it's all about or why.

Here we are,

going at it hammer and tongs.

I bet you those fellows there

feel exactly the same way about the enemy.

Possibly.

Then one day I suppose it'll all end

as suddenly as it began. We'll go home...

...till some other bunch of criminal idiots

sitting around a large table...

...shoves us into another war,

then we'll go at it again.

Do you remember my father? He used

to be a professor of biology at Queens.

He always used to say:

"Man is a savage animal who, periodically,

to relieve his nervous tension...

...tries to destroy himself."

That's just about what it is, Donnie.

I see.

- Good night, Donnie.

- Good night, Court.

- Sleep tight.

- Thanks.

Oh, I--

I suppose it is just possible

that one might not get back.

It has been known, hasn't it?

Well, in that case, I....

Would you mind if I left this with you?

What is it?

Oh, it's something I got

on the crew last year.

It's silly, but, well,

it's rather important to me.

Good night.

There's Mantez

and the 6th German army.

- Right under Von Richter's patrol.

- Where's Von Richter?

Gentlemen, Major Courtney.

Good morning.

I wanted to wish you good luck.

Sorry I didn't have any chance

to meet you last night.

- Best of luck. Same to you.

- Thank you.

- And you.

- Thank you, sir.

- Good luck.

- Thank you, sir.

- Is Captain Scott down yet?

- On his way, excuse me.

Gentlemen, these are your planes:

Mr. Moorehead, Number 6.

- Mr. Rutherford, Number 5.

- They're game lads, aren't they?

- Young England.

- Yes.

This is Number 3, Number 4 on the end.

Hello, Court.

- Good luck.

- Thanks.

Now, remember,

stick close and I'll get you through.

Don't worry about me, Scott-o.

I'm fine, couldn't be better.

- Switch off.

- Switch off.

- Contact.

- Contact.

Switch off.

- Switch off.

- Contact.

Contact.

Donnie!

Donnie!

- Two planes back.

- I know.

- Who?

- Scott-o, Billings.

You got what you wanted.

He's gone, just as I knew he would.

I watched him burning.

You killed him.

I didn't kill him.

You sent him up, you dirty butcher.

All right, gentlemen.

What a rotten war.

Come on, Ronald, say good morning.

Say good morning.

There you are, sir. There you are.

Personality, that's what you said.

Personality.

- Hello, Brand.

- Hello, Phipps.

- You look like a new man.

- I never felt better in my life.

- Have you missed me?

- Well, yes, sir.

Hello, sergeant.

How are the chickens?

- Top old eggs, sir.

- How's Courtney?

- Oh, he's inside.

- Go on, driver. Hop on behind.

Hello, Brand.

Hello, Courtney. How are you?

- You're looking fine.

- I couldn't feel better.

- Same old place, eh?

- Same old place.

- Well, how are you, old boy?

- Wonderful.

What?

I was wondering

if you could stop playing with that.

Oh, I'm sorry. Nerves, I know.

I say, Courtney, do you remember

those Gyppie cork tips...

...that you used to scream about?

I found a tin of them in the mess.

- You mean you brought these along for me?

- Yeah.

Well, thanks very much.

- Have a drink or something.

- Oh, thanks.

- Glass behind you.

- One for you?

- Yes, thanks.

- Hey, where's Scotty?

I don't know.

How is he?

He's all right, I think.

Scotty and I haven't talked to each other

for about two weeks.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Courtney, I hear headquarters

have been giving you a rotten time lately.

The old man says

you've been kicking up the very devil.

Is he? Well, you ought to know,

you're up there.

Come on, Brand, come on. What is it?

Too important to telephone about.

- That's insane. You know that, don't you?

- Yes.

The enemy are making their biggest push

the day after tomorrow.

They've concentrated the munitions

at the Soulet railhead.

You destroy that railhead,

you'll stop their drives.

But, Brand, you're crazy.

Soulet is 60 kilometers

behind the enemy lines.

The German air force would be on our tails

before we were halfway.

- The flight couldn't make it.

- One plane could.

- What do you mean, one plane?

- One plane. One man. At dusk.

It's up to one man to go alone...

...to take a chance at getting through

before they can stop him.

Do you think I could ask a man to do that?

He'd be dead before he started.

What can you do? You can't refuse.

No. I'll go myself.

I'm afraid you can't do that.

I know exactly how you feel.

I had it myself for months.

Here at this desk, chained to it.

You'll have to ask for a volunteer.

The instructions are all here.

All right.

Attention, gentlemen.

Stay where you are, gentlemen.

I have a job for you.

This just came in from Wing, gentlemen:

"Enemy in the 22nd and 23rd sectors

plan major offensive...

...on the entire front

19th instant at ack-emma.

Munitions for the advance concentrated

in a dump at railhead at Soulet."

Our squadron's ordered to destroy it.

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