The Sound Barrier Page #7

just youthful high spirits.

I think now that I hit the sound barrier.

I remember that the more I pulled on

the stick, the harder the nose went down.

- The same thing happened today.

- You're not meant to do a high Mach number!

I know, but I did.

Both times, I felt that if I'd had the guts to

put the stick forward instead of pulling it back,

I could have pulled out

without having to lose speed.

What do you think?

There's nothing in the books to suggest for

one second anything so Edgar Allan Poe-ish.

Rather depends on the

books, doesn't it, Will?

There were books once that

said the Earth was flat.

Yes?

Oh. He's here.

It's JR, for you.

Hello?

Peel here, JR.

Yes?

What, now?

Well, yes, of course.

What have I done? He sounded grim as blazes.

Here's Daddy.

- I'm sorry I'm late, darling.

- We had to start, darling.

I had to see the old man.

- You've got it, then?

- I've got what?

- Well, the rise, of course.

- Oh, blast it. I forgot to ask him.

- You forgot to ask him?

- Yes. I'm sorry darling.

Oh, really! What a husband.

All right. Bobby, go

out and play on the lawn.

- That's it, you come with me. Nice flight, dear?

- Yes, thanks. Wonderful.

I've got something hot for you in the oven.

What does he want?

- You won't tell Jess, will you?

- No.

To take the Prometheus up and reproduce

the conditions under which Tony crashed.

Could I have the bread, please?

Thanks.

- At the same speed?

- Well, faster, if possible.

When?

I shall take her up this

afternoon for a high Mach number,

and if that's all right, full crack tomorrow.

Are you going to do it?

Look, I don't have to, you know. This

was merely a suggestion, not an order.

Hm.

That's the situation, Sue.

I don't have to, but I must.

- Why must you?

- Well...

It's a bit hard to explain. I only know that

if I don't accept your father's suggestion,

I should never want to fly again.

And as flying, I've now found

out, is my life, well, I...

- There we are, darling. I hope it's still all right.

- It looks lovely.

- Fancy you forgetting to ask for the rise.

- Don't worry. I don't think he'll... object now.

- Is it safe to buy the coats for the children?

- Mm.

Oh, good. Now they'll look smarter

than those stuck-up Harrison kids.

A complaint from one of our most

important customers in Mexico

has revealed to me a possible defect in

the Marlborough Mark 3 engine mounting...

Ah. Oh, Will.

What's the test scheduled

for the Prometheus tomorrow?

- The details are on the sheet.

- There's one quite important detail that isn't.

- At what Mach number is my machine to fly?

- Mach One.

Wasn't Tony enough for you?

We learnt a lot from Tony's crash.

Just enough to know that to fly

at the speed of sound is death.

- Haven't you had enough of that?

- No.

Ever heard of pilotless aircraft?

This problem can't be solved

with pilotless aircraft.

Not in years, anyway.

Well, what are a few

years one way or another?

Important to me. I may

not have so many of them.

Hm. Trying for a peerage now, huh?

You'd better get out, Will.

I'm sorry for you, JR. I don't know

what devil it is that's eating you up.

And it can't make life any too happy for you.

Cable to Mexico City. Your letter received,

and will receive our attention. Stop.

Oh. Good evening, Sue.

Good evening, Father.

Well, you don't often give me the

pleasure of seeing you these days.

- How's my grandson?

- He's very well.

Good.

- Father?

- Yes?

- Are you going on with this test tomorrow?

- What's that to do with you?

Did Philip tell you what

happened to him this afternoon?

Yes. I've just been reading his report.

For a good ten seconds, he

was completely out of control.

What are his chances if

that happens tomorrow?

Well, it might not happen tomorrow.

Please put off the test, Father.

No.

You're prepared to let

Philip go the way of Tony?

Well, we don't know the way of Tony.

That's Philip's job tomorrow,

to find out how Tony was killed.

And Tony was finding out how

Geoffrey de Havilland was killed,

and another pilot will find

out how Philip was killed.

And each time, we'll learn a bit more.

So that one day, Ridgefields will build an

airliner that'll go to New York in three hours.

Two.

So a few people who can afford it will

spend an occasional weekend in New York,

and Ridgefields shares will go up and up.

My dear Susan, what kind

of man do you think I am?

I don't know. I... really don't know.

What sort of a man with... two deaths on his

conscience could risk burdening it with a third?

A man whose passionate worship is for a

pile of bricks and mortar called Ridgefields?

My dear Susan, if you were to tell

me that only by giving up Ridgefields

could I find out what happens to

an aircraft at the speed of sound,

I'd say, "All right, Susan,

my girl, it's a deal. "

- I don't believe that.

- That's because you can't understand it!

You make imaginary sacrifices for yourself, but

it's other people's lives you really sacrifice.

You think I felt nothing at Tony's death?

What else can I think, when a few hours after

his death I find you listening to his voice?

Our ways are different in so many things, I

expect our ways of grieving are different too.

Well, I don't suppose

you've any more to say to me.

Yes, I have, Father.

- I'm taking John to live in London.

- Oh. Indeed?

You know why I'm taking your

grandson away from you, don't you?

You want me to think of

you as a man with a vision.

Well, that vision has killed

both my husband and my brother.

And while I'm alive, it's

not going to kill my son too.

There are evil visions as well

as good ones, you know, Father.

That's why I'm taking my baby away.

Thanks, Windy.

- Tell them I'll be out in two minutes, will you?

- OK.

You sent for me, Father.

Well, thank you for coming.

I've... I've got something to say.

1-4 to Tower. Climbing now.

JPTseems a bit high, but

other pressures normal.

Checking. Will call again later.

Erm, before you go off, I... I wanted to

know what school you've got John down for.

Is that all you wanted to say?

No. Good schools are not two

a penny. You've got to think.

But surely there's plenty of time.

I'm climbing to 40,000 feet.

Weather conditions ideal.

I'm going to make my first

run level at full throttle.

I'm still climbing.

- Susan...

- Yes, Father?

Levelling out now. 40,000.

All right. I'm all set.

Starting run now.

Increasing speed.

Revs twelve-five.

Mach 0.88.

0.89. Slight buffeting.

0.90. Getting nose-heavy now. Correcting.

Throttling back.

Run completed.

- I'm sorry, I must go.

- No, don't go! Stay and talk.

Don't leave me alone.

1-4 to Tower.

Still at 40,000. At that speed,

she was quite controllable.

There was a slight port wing

drop, but nothing serious.

Didn't have to use trim,

I corrected on the stick.

JPTnow normal.

Well, what were we talking about? It, erm...

- It was about schools, wasn't it?

- Yes.

Right. Second run.

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