The Gypsy Moths Page #2

- Yes.

I suppose in a way

that's what makes it exciting, isn't it?

Most ordinary people

can't help but respond...

...to the idea of some excitement

in their lives, you know.

Even if it terrifies them?

Yes, exactly.

- Do you remember them very well?

- No.

No, I don't.

Your mother was a beautiful woman.

- A wonderful woman.

- Malcolm? Hey, kid?

It's clouding up.

I don't want those chutes left out.

- What should we do with them?

- You can put the trailer in the garage.

Thanks, Mr. Brandon.

That'd be fine if you don't mind.

The radio did say rain.

They're wrong nine times out of ten.

I'll get an accurate report out at the field.

Actually, the forecast was for showers

in the morning.

See? Showers in the morning.

It couldn't hurt us. Customers will come.

Browdy?

Forget about the customers.

If the chutes get damp, we don't jump.

The chutes will be in the garage,

so they won't get damp. Stop worrying.

Browdy?

The garage, dry!

Besides, like Rettig says, we have

to make it interesting for ourselves.

Now there are several places

you can wear a chute:

On your back.

On your chest.

Or you can sit on it.

Now, ladies, this particular parachute...

...this one I'm wearing,

is called a Para-Commander.

It's a sophisticated chute and quite heavy,

as you can see.

It takes quite a bit of practice

to get used to.

In fact, it takes between 25

and sometimes 50 jumps...

...with a training chute,

before you can handle this baby.

I mention it in case some of you ladies

thought you might like to try it once.

This device here is your ripcord handle.

This, when pulled sharply,

opens your pack.

Now watch this.

Sorry.

This is your pilot chute.

This is what pulls your canopy

completely out of the pack.

Like this.

These are your suspension lines.

You can see they extend some 25 feet

from the harness there to the canopy.

When the canopy pops open,

you're traveling down toward the earth...

...at a speed of 125 to 200 miles per hour,

depending on the angle of the body.

Yes, ma'am?

What is a canopy?

This, ma'am. This is a canopy.

Not to be confused

with some of the canaps you ladies...

...might have with a martini before dinner.

No.

All right, let's try it again from "B."

And clarinets...

...could we hear you?

Some verve.

Con brio. Pep.

All right, are we ready? From "B."

Hi.

You're Malcolm. I'm Annie Burke.

They told me you were coming.

- I didn't mean to interrupt...

- That's all right.

You play very well.

Thank you, but you're either very kind...

...or you know nothing at all

about playing the piano.

No, I don't know very much about it.

But I do know when it sounds good.

- You live here?

- I rent a room.

You go to the college?

In the summer?

I failed a course last semester.

I'm making it up.

They told me what you do.

Sounds ridiculous.

I suppose it does.

Why did you do this?

Do what?

Come here?

To sell some tickets.

I didn't want to turn down

your husband's invitation.

Your friend could have come. Mr. Browdy.

Your husband didn't invite Mr. Browdy.

You have contempt for us, don't you?

Who?

Certainly everybody here this afternoon.

Maybe everyone else too.

Certainly us.

Why are we contemptible to you?

Do you care?

No, as a matter of fact'

I haven't been back since I left...

...about 12 years ago now. I was a kid.

- Where does your family live now?

- They're dead.

That's why I left.

They were killed in a car accident.

I guess my father was drunk.

I didn't know that at the time, of course...

...later I figured

that's what it must have been.

He was a pretty reckless character, I guess.

They put me in this home.

I was adopted out a couple of times, and...

Why didn't they ever take you?

The Brandons?

I never asked.

It beats motels.

Listen, what was that this afternoon?

What was that all about?

What was what all about?

I can't quite see you making speeches

to ladies' clubs.

I try, but I can't quite picture it.

You should have been there.

I was a big hit.

I don't doubt that.

What's on your mind, kid?

Appleton.

- Forget it.

- Do you?

I don't think about it one way or the other.

You almost went into the ground.

The same thing at Lawrenceville.

How can you not think about that?

I said, "Forget it."

Remember what you always said

when I first started with you?

"Be careful." That's what you always said.

"That's what is important in this business.

Be careful."

Is that what I always said?

Why are you taking so many chances now?

What are you trying to prove?

We'll be jumping from a Howard DGA-15.

DGA, that stands for Damn Good Airplane'

which, of course, it is.

Very tricky to land, though.

You're better off jumping out of it

than you are trying to land it.

This one is in good shape.

To Browdy, an airplane is in good shape

if it has wings and a prop.

We've had a lot worse.

You remember that time in Adler?

We had an airplane in Adler

that never even got off the ground.

Hit the end of the runway'

went into a cornfield...

...harvested about an acre of corn

before the pilot could get it stopped.

Will you watch us jump tomorrow?

We'll be there, won't we?

Yes, I'm looking forward to it.

What is the most dangerous stunt

that you do?

The cape stunt.

That's a stunt we do with a cape.

- Do you do that one?

- Oh, no.

Rettig does that one.

I don't understand

why you do this thing at all.

To me it's a business.

Mr. Rettig, what is it to you

if you don't mind my asking?

I had a friend in the Army. A sergeant.

A parachutist for about 20 years.

He used to say

that jumping was not only a way to live...

... but also a way to die.

Damned few things are.

That's very interesting.

"He is at liberty to die,

who does not wish to live."

- Do you believe that?

- That's dead wrong.

Are you a religious man, Mr. Browdy?

What's religion have to do with it?

- Browdy goes to church every Sunday.

- Okay, kid.

- Does that embarrass you, Mr. Browdy?

- No, it doesn't. Why should it?

If we're going to go downtown

we'd better get started.

- If you'll excuse us, Mr. Brandon?

- I think that's a good idea.

Anybody know a good place?

We're open for suggestions.

The Horse's Head is nice.

The Horse's Head is on the quaint side,

don't you think, Annie?

The Paradise might be the place

that would appeal to you.

What sort of place would appeal to us?

I just meant that it was lively.

I intended no offense.

Would you care to come along,

or do you have other plans?

Thank you. I have a date.

Well, that's the breaks, kid.

Rettig, are you coming?

Mrs. Brandon, very nice supper.

You're welcome.

Is that yours?

You wish!

What's it for?

Money for the jukebox.

That doesn't look

like small-town stuff to me.

Nothing looks like small-town stuff to you.

So what's wrong with that?

All right.

Okay, what can I do for you, boys?

Yeah, right. Besides that?

Why don't we start with three beers?

And from there, we'll see what develops.

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