The Hindenburg Page #2

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Behave yourselves. You act like Gypsies.

Good night. Good night.

Stewardess, we're going to bed.

We'll ring if we need anything.

Excuse me. Excuse me. I beg your pardon.

I'm just a poor Gypsy.

That Freda Halle.

She's a loose woman.

They say she works for foreigners.

Some French bank in Frankfurt.

We should report it, Frau Knorr.

Look, it's women's gossip.

I mean, we're all loyal Germans.

Besides, that Karl is no fool.

Enough now.

I drink to the one I love.

The Hindenburg.

That song is going to make me sick.

Charlie! Yoo-hoo! We're over here!

It has wrecked more men,

blasted more lives...

and dishonored more ladies...

than any other scourge on this earth.

I wish you'd forget this zeppelin crap

and come on over to the coronation.

Quaky's rented a duke's palace

outside London.

Not for us, Hattie.

Reed's finished the score on his new show.

- Rehearsals start the 12th.

- We couldn't possibly.

Besides, British quarantine

won't let Heidi into the country.

You should've had children

instead of dogs.

The evil spell's been lifted.

Bess is pregnant.

At your age?

- Finally.

- No rooftop announcements just yet. We...

We don't want to push our luck.

- Oh, Bess.

- Isn't it wonderful?

How long will you be

away from us, Countess?

I suppose until I get homesick.

What is the purpose of your trip?

- To visit my daughter at school in Boston.

- Where will you be staying?

With friends.

Mr. and Mrs. Alden Winthrop.

In Boston?

Yes. And at their place on Cape Cod.

What does he do?

His occupation.

He's with the Winthrop

First National Bank...

and I can assure you, Major,

he is not the doorman.

Estelle, I've been looking

all over for you.

Mr. Edward Douglas.

Cablegram for Mr. Douglas...

- I'm Mr. Douglas.

- Here, sir.

Thank you.

Will Mr. Kenji Shimura

please come to the information desk.

Mr. Kenji Shimura,

please come to the information desk.

Looks like we'll get off a little late.

Yeah. What's the holdup?

- Let's get this show on the road.

- I know I had it.

We're keeping all passports

this trip, Countess.

They will be returned to you

when we arrive at Lakehurst.

Oh. I see.

Your lighter will be returned

after we've landed at Lakehurst.

The official photographer

should know better.

If you'll just step into the booth

for a body search.

It's company policy.

- Stay up here with me.

- Stay together.

Oh, Paul. So clumsy.

- Help Daddy.

- Thank you.

Your name is familiar, Mr. Breslau.

Do you have relatives in Germany?

Many friends and associates,

but no relatives.

Well, now, you might have, Albert.

I've always been sure our name

once had a "von." Von Breslau.

- That's Prussian nobility.

- That's where I've heard it.

Too bad, Mildred. The "von" doesn't

count when you're born in the States.

- We all were.

- Me too.

Couple of cowboys, huh?

Come on, boys. Stay together.

Watch where you're going.

- Over here.

- That's a handsome cane, sir.

May I see it?

You wouldn't admire it so much

if you were crippled.

I don't intend to be.

Would you tape the end of Mr. Bajetta's cane

and return it to him, please?

- Yes, sir.

- You must be the special security officer.

It's a good thing too.

You know this ruddy blimp

is filled with hydrogen?

I'll make a note of that. Thank you.

You call that dumb Dutchman

a security man?

The tape is for your own safety, sir.

The steel tip could strike sparks.

I'd expect more courtesy

on a cattle boat.

- Just do as you're told.

- May I help, Countess?

Franz.

- Are you on board?

- Yes.

What's wrong this trip?

These people insist upon going through

all of my luggage and my trunk.

- Will you speak to them, please?

- Certainly.

Search it. Strip the lining.

Remove the metal corners.

If you run out of time,

ship it to the countess on the Bremen.

Not very gallant, was it, Colonel?

The German Air Force

is not at all what it used to be.

But then nothing is these days.

Nothing.

Hi! Nice dog!

Heil! Heil!

No, no.

Your papers, please.

Introducing the world's greatest,

the one and only.

Here's my passport and ticket.

All in order.

Throw the bag on the zep, my boy.

Oh, goody. We are going to play doctor.

Why not?

Give it a thorough examination.

Also the suitcase.

Will Miss Breslau please write down

her correct weight?

- I did. 106.

- Keep the pen.

It's a present

from relatives in Germany.

Not a word to your father until

after you've sailed. He'll understand.

We don't have any relatives in Germany.

My God, Lehmann.

- Are you suggesting I disobey orders?

- No, Pruss.

I'm saying the captain

has the authority to cancel a flight...

any time he doesn't think it's safe.

- You know our situation.

- I know that I don't believe much of it.

If you say there's a weakness

on the new wrist pin on engine four...

you have a valid reason for not

taking off. I'll back you up on it.

Number four is perfectly reliable now.

The rest of your ship may not be.

No. It's out of the question, Lehmann.

The ship was searched twice today.

At least two Gestapo men

on board that I know of.

And we have Colonel Ritter with us.

I'd look like a fool, or worse. No.

Oh, Ritter, come board with us.

Colonel, did you know we have the pleasure

of Capt. Lehmann for this voyage?

- Just as an observer, Captain.

- And as a diplomat.

A worried diplomat.

Seems I'm to go to Washington

to try to get us helium.

I wish we had it this trip.

To the right, please, Countess.

Excuse us, sir.

We'd like to look around a bit first.

Yes, ma'am.

I'll just put these in your cabin.

Come on. Let's go look in here.

I had no idea.

This is my favorite room.

Now if we could get a drink...

It has windows!

Colonel Ritter,

your party has been contacted.

- I had to see you again.

- Yes?

I'll be back in six days.

Then we'll talk.

Everything's in order, sir.

Prepare to weigh off.

- Bye now!

- Have fun!

Drop lines.

Up ship!

Cable New York, Mitzi.

Remember, it's six hours different.

Happy landing!

Colonel Ritter.

Martin Vogel. Did you know?

We're cabin mates.

- Are we?

- Yes. I feel honored.

I hope the colonel doesn't

mind sharing quarters with me.

Delighted.

Weather over the Channel.

If you fly the north side

of the storm...

the pressure pattern

will simply push us over England.

The British don't want us

over their chimney pots.

- They'll complain to the Foreign Office.

- Foreign Office isn't aboard.

I'll do the worrying this trip, Captain.

We'll stay on course

and try to outrun the storm.

She's on her way, sir.

Left Frankfurt ten minutes ago.

8:
18 by their clock.

- Now we sweat, Hank.

- Yes, sir.

- Till 6:
00 a.m. Thursday.

- Listen to this.

"No voyager on the Hindenburg

need fear fire from within the ship."

Et cetera, et cetera.

That's the same magazine that predicted

Landon would beat Roosevelt in 32 states.

That's why I read Ballyhoo

exclusively, sir.

Every time she puts in here

it's like walking on a crate of eggs.

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