The Hunters

Colonel Armstrong, MG.

You're scheduled | to fly out for Seoul at 1800 hours.

You can rest in the lounge. | Over here through the door.

Roger.

Saville.

Major, you're billeted tonight in BOQ ten.

We'll fly you out to Seoul | tomorrow at 1000 hours.

From there you'll go by bus | to the 54th group at K-13.

Thank you, sir.

Martini, please, very dry.

Pardon me, Major, | but aren't you Cleve Saville?

- Yes. | - I'm Gifford, the club officer.

- You wouldn't remember me. | - I'm sorry.

I was a second lieutenant | with your wing in London.

- Really? | - Mm-hm. What's your assignment in Korea?

- 54th Fighter Group. | - 54th. They're the rough ones.

- I guess you'd like to be flying with them. | - I am.

- Oh, I just thought... | - Deskjob? No, not yet, I'm glad to say.

By the way, | there's a 54th pilot in here for a weekend.

Yeah, there he is. | Lieutenant Abbott. Lieutenant.

Lieutenant, this officer's assigned | to your group. This is Major Saville.

Carl Abbott. Hello.

- Well, it was nice to have seen you, Major. | - Thank you.

- Do you want a drink? | - Just got one.

Kevin, give me a double bourbon, will you? | And fill the major's up when he's through.

Oh, man.

I got a sinus. It's chewin' me up. | You ever have a sinus? It's murder.

- Wait. You're Cleve Saville. | - That's what he said.

It's this sinus. I didn't connect. | Sure, we've been expecting you.

Some of the guys | are already trying to get in your command.

- It may be a different war... | - It's a lousy war.

I was gonna say, it may be a different war, | but nothing else has changed.

You still find everything out for yourself. | What command?

- Squadron. Colonel Imil passed the word. | - Imil?

Yeah. Dutch Imil. He... | Oh, this sinus. I gotta have another drink.

Kevin, put one on the fire, will you?

He's our group commander. | He flew with you.

I remember Imil. | We were in the same flight in London.

Yeah. He goes way back too.

The golden boy of '44. | The first of the jet pilots.

A killer. A hunter.

He eats two steaks at a sitting. | The world is too small for him.

The only thing a fighter pilot needs is | confidence - and he's got enough for all of us.

- When do you report? | - I fly out to Seoul at 1000 tomorrow.

That's my flight. | Do you want to have dinner with me?

- I'm meeting a gal at the Ichi-Ban restaurant. | - No, not if you have a date.

Major, I want you to come. OK?

- All right. Thanks. | - We'll have just one more and then we'll go.

Kevin. You're neglecting me.

Tell the driver I'll be right back, will you?

- Do you have a table for a Lieutenant Abbott? | - Yes, sir. There is someone waiting for him.

No, thank you. I'm not staying.

He will take you, sir.

Do you, uh, speak English?

Fairly well, I think.

Somehow, in a place like this, | I expected you to be Japanese.

- I am waiting for someone. | - Yes, I know. Lieutenant Abbott.

Oh?

I came to tell you he won't be here.

It isn't like him to send a substitute.

Well, I'm not, but neither is it a bad idea.

- Where is Lieutenant Abbott? | - As a matter of fact, he's outside in a cab.

- I'll go with you. | - Allow me.

Thank you.

Carl.

- Carl? | - Don't waste your time.

It wasn't the doubles at the club, | it was the triples on the way over here.

- Why did you let him do it? | - Would you flash that on the board again?

I'm sorry.

I'll drop you off where you want to go | before taking him back to the field.

I wouldn't like anyone to see him this way.

In a barracks on a weekend there's nothing | odd about a man being poured into bed.

I know, but I want to take him with me.

Will you help me?

OK.

Where are we going?

My name's Saville. Cleve Saville.

- Do you fly with Carl? | - No, not yet, but I'm assigned to his group.

Do you know when he's scheduled | to return to Korea?

Ten tomorrow morning. Same flight as mine.

- It's very kind of you to help me. | - I'm a kindly soul.

There on the sofa will do.

- Does the guy always knock himself out? | - Not like this.

In the beginning he almost never drank.

- He's scared. | - How do you know that?

I've seen a lot of combat pilots. Too much | booze is one sign. Headaches - he's got them.

He doesn't think he's a good flyer | because he hasn't gotten any enemy planes.

He said he's had over 30 missions. | He can't be too bad or he'd be dead.

- He thinks he's just lucky. | - Well, maybe he is.

A man can't hit it that hard and fightjets. | Not for long.

I would like to help him, | but I don't know how.

Fighter pilots don't want to be helped. | They're stubborn.

You don't tinker with a man's fear - | he does that for himself.

- Is there anything else I can do? | - Would you like some coffee?

There. It's hot.

Hot coffee, huh?

- You really were expecting him, weren't you? | - Of course.

- Nice place. | - Thank you.

- Have you been in Japan long? | - A few months.

- Did you tell me your name? | - Christina. I'm usually called Chris.

- More coffee, Major? | - No, thank you.

I think if Carl could feel | the war was more important -

that it has a bigger meaning - | I don't think he'd be like this.

The war has a bigger meaning.

The trouble is it came too soon after the real | big one. It's hard to sell anybody on it.

- You are not "sold" on it? | - I'm regular air force. I don't have to be sold.

No, I suppose not. | A professional doesn't ask questions.

We're not paid to ask questions, | but we're not blind sheep either.

We can get out, | or we can wangle any sort of duty we like.

I'm supposed to be overage for combat, | but I managed to get here.

- You wanted combat? | - Sure.

Why? Do you like the war?

It's the only war I've got.

I see.

I doubt that you do see.

Why? I've seen men go to Korea | from World War ll.

Trying to recapture a feeling of importance | the other war gave them. Isn't that it?

I know the kind of men you're talking about. | No, it isn't like that with me.

The war permits me to do the one thing | I do better than anything else - fight planes.

- Now, what about you? | - What do you mean?

Well, I bring a drunk home | for a mysterious girl - a very pretty girl.

I willingly discuss my private business | for her curiosity,

and all I get in return is a cup of coffee.

But I thought you knew.

I mean, when you came into the cafe, | I thought you knew.

I'm sorry, Major. I'm Lieutenant Abbott's wife.

But he said he was going to meet...

No, I didn't know.

I guess I've been pretty stupid. | I only hope I haven't also been rude.

No, you haven't.

Well, in any case, thanks for the coffee.

- Will he stay sober tomorrow? | - Will who stay sober?

Who are you?

Right now, a man with egg on his face.

It's Major Saville, Carl.

Oh... oh, yeah. Yeah, Major, uh...

Oh, sure.

Well, what happened?

I haven't been in any trouble, have I?

No, no. No trouble, Lieutenant.

- Good night. | - I'll see you tomorrow on the plane, sir.

Sure. Tomorrow.

- Good night, Mrs Abbott. | - Good night, Major, and thanks again.

- Carl, I... | - No.

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