The Great Waldo Pepper Page #6

---

And what I want to see

is McKinnon's plane flamed,

see him Jump to his death

and then the final

dog-fight between

Kessler and Madden.

Think you can handle that?

Yes, sir.

No problem.

Hey, George.

George. Mr. Werfel,

I'd like you to

meet my partner,

the famous George Brown

from the East Coast.

This is Mr. Werfel,

the Director.

Excuse me.

What is this picture?

It's called

Eagles Over France,

about the 14th Air Scouts.

That was Ernst

Kessler's battle.

Yes, that's right.

Yes, they flew against

Kessler. It's all true.

True, no.

You got it all wrong.

The 14th Scouts didn't have

any Spads, and they didn't

have Newports, or SC 5's.

Mr. Brown.

There was a

different insignia...

Mr. Brown! Anybody can

supply accuracy,

artists provide truths.

But Mr. Werfel,

I know this battle.

And they were

stationed much closer

to the front line.

There was no

phony farm house.

He's quite right,

it didn't look like that.

But then, perhaps,

some poetic license

is justified.

You're learning.

Look here.

You sure you can handle

all these three stunts?

Yes, Sir.

They're very dangerous.

We can do it.

And how much is it

gonna cost me?

Depends.

I'm on a very

tight budget...

You're Ernst Kessler,

aren't you?

Yes.

And your name is Brown?

I'm sorry I went on

about what an expert

I was on your battle.

No. No need.

You probably know

more about it than I do.

I was there, of course,

but ah, there wasn't much

time for me to study.

Well, anyway,

I'm glad to be

in your movie.

Oh, it's hardly mine.

I am just

a technical advisor.

They let me do

my own flying.

Publicity, I suppose.

Aren't you

playing yourself?

Ernst Kessler

shot down 70 planes.

Now, if you were

casting the part,

who would you pick?

I'd pick you.

Oh, it doesn't matter.

It's all lies

anyway, Mr. Brown.

Oh, ah, let's

forget the Brown stuff.

My name is

Waldo Pepper.

You're Waldo Pepper?

You were a friend

of Ezra Stiles?

And you were with him

in Muncie, when he

tried for the outside loop?

You were in

some trouble, yes?

Yes.

It's over now?

No.

So nice to

have met you.

Perhaps we'll have

a chance to fly together.

I'd like that.

Goodbye, Mr. Brown.

Goodbye.

This is it.

Uh-huh.

Well, have you got any notions

of how to set this Goddamned

thing on fire in mid-air

and then jump clear

without singeing

your ass off?

Well, we'll see.

Well, you know,

we could...

Did you find out

how much Werfel is

gonna pay for this stunt?

Yeah. 500.

500?

You mean, he's gonna pay me

$500 just to set this

thing on fire and jump?

No, not you.

He's paying me $500.

You're flying

the Madden plane.

What?

You're flying

the Madden plane.

How do you know?

Kessler talked

to Werfel.

He said he wanted to do

the dogfight with you.

You know,

if I place a charge

under the cowling,

and I run some wires

back under the floor

board to a switch here,

when I hit the switch,

smoke pot goes,

when I jump clear,

the plane will be goin'...

I was not spying.

I did not wish

to be an intrusion.

So, tomorrow we do

the McKinnon jump.

Who's doing it?

I am.

May I ask you why?

There are other pilots.

Well, I'm 32-years-old and

I've been flying since I was

20 and I'm gettin' married.

Yeah,

I'm gettin' married.

And they're paying me

500 bucks for this jump

and that makes my

total net worth $250.

I need the money.

Yes, I understand

the need for money.

Captain, believe me.

I, myself, am in

debt for slightly

less than $40,000.

But, ah, I still

would not like to

make that jump.

Well, how can

a guy like you be

in debt for $40,000?

I ask myself that

from time to time.

All I can

tell you is that

life is clear for me

up there alone.

In the sky I found,

even in my enemies,

courage, honor

and chivalry.

On the ground...

Is it secured?

Huh?

Is it secured?

Yeah.

Okay. I'm gonna put the

switch in back here, now.

Yeah.

Are you sure?

Sure about what?

About... Hey!

Goddamn it,

you stupid moron!

This is already

a fire hazard

just sitting here!

Get me an end wrench.

Never mind.

I'll get it myself.

Madden got height

on you that day.

They were up in back

of you with the sun

behind them. How come?

Hmm. You're quite correct.

Yes, I was heading

back home.

Cold and

I'm afraid, careless.

You know, I flew

much better missions

than this one.

Nobody knows about

them, but I did.

This one only took

eight minutes.

Someone down

on the ground

told me that once.

I was surprised.

You see,

nothing in my life

has ever been

the same since.

And eight minutes,

it seemed too little,

like a cheat.

The five of them

came at us out

of the sun.

And on the

first pass,

Madden shot down

my escort plane.

Which left it four

to one against me.

At first,

I wanted to run,

but they had

the angles on me,

so I closed with them.

And that they

did not expect.

You know,

I could see how

young they were.

So frightened.

And they already

knew my plane.

Who was Lola?

My first wife.

You know,

I've had three.

She left me

soon after the war.

They all left me,

but Lola is

the only one

that I still seek

out in crowds.

Where was I?

They recognized

your plane.

And they

forgot everything.

You know, they made

such final mistakes.

And I kept on firing

until they were down.

And the last to go

was McKinnon.

And he flamed.

You know, I don't

blame him for jumping.

I would have done

the same thing.

But I didn't actually

see him go, because

Madden was on me.

Did you know

it was Madden?

I think so, yes.

I wanted it to be,

I know that.

Madden, they said,

was a wonder.

And I was

Ernst Kessler.

But not

against children.

No, that proves nothing.

You see,

I keep track of talent.

Madden tried

going under you

at first, didn't he?

Yes.

Were you surprised?

I thought I was done.

But I maneuvered free.

But before I could

breathe, he was on

me again, and I said,

"My God, is he

better than I am?

"Is there someone

who can beat me

in the sky?"

Were you scared?

No.

Everything was in order.

The world made

total sense.

We battled.

No lasting advantage.

He was brighter,

I was smarter.

He was faster,

and I was quicker.

Until

he hesitated

coming out of a turn.

His guns had jammed.

You know,

I could see him,

pounding on the guns.

Trying to make them

regain function.

And I thought,

"Run, Madden.

"Try for the clouds."

But he didn't.

He came straight

for me instead.

And I thought,

"You are very stupid,

"but you are very brave.

"So someone else

will have to kill you."

Was that when

you saluted?

Yes.

And then what did you do?

Wept.

Now, when you pull

the smoke pot,

keep it going

for a full 10 seconds

and then set

the plane on fire.

Only, make sure the

plane's really on fire

before you get out.

Now, then you'll jump,

and the camera ship will

follow you all the way down.

Right? Okay.

But don't open your

parachute too soon

otherwise you'll spoil

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes