The Way to the Stars Page #2

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- l'm just an amateur.

- There aren't any amateurs and professionals.

Just good pilots and bad pilots.

The good pilots stay alive

and the bad ones don't.

That's not true any more, either.

Thanks.

- Break your blooming heart, wouldn't it?

- Just my luck. Another 15-hour sprog.

Look out. Here he is.

- Afternoon, sir.

- Afternoon.

The port engine's not giving the revs

she should, sir. Careful not to overheat her.

She's a bit overdue for a major, sir, but the

Engineering Officer, he says we can't spare her.

lt's a wicked shame to treat aircraft like this, sir.

Mark my words, no good will come of it.

Thanks very much.

The new bloke, sir,

l bet his first takeoff's worse than mine was.

l doubt it.

Well, he missed the control tower

Come on, chaps. Time to get cracking.

Mr Palmer.

A fine sight, isn't it?

- One missing, isn't there?

- Yes.

We don't know which one yet.

- Had a good trip?

- Not bad. Just a stooge around, you know.

- How do you like flying Blenheims?

- Very much.

They take a bit of flying, of course,

but l'd sooner handle them than most types.

- You've flown a lot of types?

- A fair number, you know?

Blenheims are pretty easy. l suppose they'll

make me operational straightaway, won't they?

You can't fly a Blenheim to save your life.

And there's not only your life

to be considered, either.

You'll go on operations

when l think you're fit and not before.

l only thought

that with the shortage of pilots...

lf l let you fly on ops in your present state,

l'd only be adding to the shortage.

That landing was ruddy awful.

Don't go, Tiny. l want to speak to you, presently.

lf you make another landing like that,

l'll send you back to OTU,

Battle of Britain or no Battle of Britain.

Sorry.

Why didn't you go round again ?

Well, l thought l could get her down all right.

Well, next time, you might remember

that you've got other people flying with you.

Right.

- Hello, Tiny.

- Hello, old boy.

The CO bought it this afternoon.

That's what l wanted to see you about, Tiny.

l suppose they'll make me Acting CO.

l'll send another bloke up with you this

afternoon, to do some circuits and bumps.

And Penrose

l think you'll make a pilot, all right.

- Oh, hello, sir.

- Hello, Sergeant.

Sorry about making such a clot of myself.

What do you mean, sir, that landing?

Ta. l've had worse than that, don't you worry.

Old Bill Thompson,

he used to be my pilot till he bought it.

He used to do some real shakers.

Break every bone in your body.

Poor old Bill.

Yours was nothing.

Thanks.

- Going Shepley way?

- Yes, sir.

- Jump in. What about you, Penrose?

- Thanks very much, sir.

- Hello, Miss Todd.

- Hello, Flight Lieutenant.

- This is Pilot Officer Penrose.

- How do you do?

Don't forget to wipe your feet before you go in

the lounge. l've told you before.

Most terribly sorry.

She the manageress?

Bit of a tartar, isn't she?

Oh, her bark's worse than her bite.

Boys, have a drink. l expect you deserve it.

- No, thanks.

- Come on. Don't be shy.

- Palmer's the name.

- Pilot Officer Penrose.

Two large Highland Flings.

Must support the old firm, you know.

Well, been giving those old barges a caning?

That's the stuff. Only, save a few Jerries

for the LDV. l'm rather hot with my pike!

l beg your pardon.

The Misses Winterton, major and minor.

- Mr...

- Penrose

- How do you do?

- How do you do?

How do you do?

Would you care for a drink, Miss Winterton ?

What's that you're making?

- An air-force pullover.

- For anyone in particular?

No.

- Just for the Comforts Fund.

- Oh.

lt's a bit difficult

making those squiggly bits round the collar.

No, it isn't, really.

You see,

when you get to the end...

lris, dear, we'd better have our dinner now,

otherwise we shall find

it's all been eaten by the non -residents.

Yes, Auntie.

Oh, Miss Todd!

- You know l never complain...

- Yes. Will you come to my office after dinner?

lris!

Coming, Auntie.

Now, if they'd drop a bomb on Auntie,

instead of Halfpenny Field...

She need it?

- Oh, hello.

- Hello.

- Can l help you?

- Yes. Here.

You wipe while l wash.

One of the bar boys left this morning. Called up.

- Did you go over this afternoon ?

- No. The Squadron did.

We lost our CO.

Squadron Leader Carter?

l'm terribly sorry.

Yes. lt's a bad show.

He was a great friend of yours, wasn't he?

l knew him pretty well.

ls there any hope?

No-one saw him or his crew bail out.

They'll post them as missing, l suppose,

for three months, anyway.

l think if l had to hear

someone was killed,

l'd rather hear it at once,

than hear it first as"missing".

Yes, it is rather an ugly word, isn't it?

know a

kind of poem called Missing.

Do you?

Less said the better.

The bill unpaid. The dead letter.

No roses at the end of Smith my friend

Last words don "t matter

for there are none to flatter

Words will not fill the post of Smith the ghost

For Smith, our brother

only son of loving mother,

the ocean lifted, stirred...

...leaving no word.

You wrote that yourself.

l say things l feel, that way, sometimes.

Sort of hobby.

l didn't know.

You're the only one who does

or who ever will.

Miss Todd? Glasses please

Fine bar boy, l am, spouting poetry at you.

The German pilot says to the Girl Guide,

"Which way is to the station ?"

She said,"l don't know.

l'm a parachutist here myself."

- Not bad, eh?

- Not bad.

- Going to bed already?

- Yes. Auntie doesn't like us staying up late.

Well, l suppose there's not very much

to stay up for in a place like Shepley.

- No, there isn't.

- ls there a cinema?

- Oh, yes.

- Well, couldn't we go along...

lris, dear, l thought l asked you

to get the room warm.

Yes, Auntie.

l sometimes wonder whether these modern girls

ever think of anyone but themselves.

- One for the swing doors?

- No, thanks.

- Drink up!

- Hello, we've had it.

Never mind. Hear about the man in the shelter?

The woman in the shelter... Wait a minute.

- You seen Archdale?

- No, but l shouldn't worry.

He's always last man out.

"Love's Old Sweet Song."

- So, this...

- Good night.

The man... Cheerio.

Get me a final one, will you?

l've got a chill. l have, honest.

Tell'em it's for medicinal purposes.

Mr. Palmer, you do go on.

l kill'em.

- Good night.

- Good night.

- Good night, Miss Todd.

- Good night.

Good night, David.

Toddy.

What is the time? l know we shall be late.

There's plenty of time. Don't fuss.

There.

The skirt's still far too long.

l shall tread on it, l know l shall.

No, you won't

Don't l look a sight!

Yes, you do look a sight.

l'll get your bouquet.

Why, whatever's the matter?

Nothing.

Darling Toddy.

- Good luck.

- Thank you.

Ladies and gentlemen,

l am glad to say that to me

has fallen the lot to propose

the health of the...

...if l may coin a phrase,

"happy pair".

To the bridegroom, l would say this.

May his matrimonial takeoff

be straight and smooth.

May his climb through the clouds

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