Twelve O'Clock High Page #4

Attention!

At rest.

There'll be a briefing for a practice

mission at 1100 this morning.

That's right, practice.

I've been sent here to take over

what's known as a hard-luck group.

I don't believe in hard luck,

so we'll find out what the trouble is.

Maybe part of it's your flying,

so we're going back to fundamentals.

I can tell you why I think

you've been having hard luck.

I saw it in your faces last night.

I can see it there now.

You've looked at a lot of air lately.

You think you ought to have a rest.

In short, you're sorry for yourselves.

I have no patience with this stuff.

We're in a war. A shooting war.

We've got to fight.

And some of us have got to die.

I'm not trying to tell you

not to be afraid. Fear is normal.

But stop worrying about it,

and about yourselves.

Stop making plans, forget about

going home. Consider yourselves dead.

Once you accept that idea,

it won't be so tough.

Now, if any man here can't buy that...

...if he rates himself as special

with a special hide to be saved...

...he'd better make up his mind

about it now.

Because I don't want him

in this group.

I'll be in my office in five minutes.

You can see me there.

MAN 1:
I'll take Davenport any day.

MAN 2:
Me too.

I'd better get to the office.

The traffic's gonna be heavy.

The air exec and the flight

surgeon are here.

Show them in.

They beat you. I thought you'd

be the first to ask for transfer.

- No, sir.

- It wouldn't do you any good.

It doesn't go for staff.

You're stuck with me. Tell them

They thought you'd want to see them

about the practice mission.

For the general's information,

you'll find Major Kaiser a top man.

Thorough, knows his job.

Cobb's an excellent man too.

It's just he's a little too frank.

- Thanks, major.

- Yes, sir.

- This is Major Kaiser.

- Glad to see you.

- I think you met Major Cobb.

- Indeed, I have.

I don't know if you still want

me here after last night. I was stiff.

Well, you laid it on the line.

You got the job after

I saw you, not before.

You heard the briefing.

Still want it?

- I think I can cut it, sir.

- See you at takeoff.

What about crew availability?

We have a critical morale problem.

You gave them the shock treatment

this morning, a bucket of cold water.

That's how I should approach the problem

as to how much stress they can take?

Any man physically capable

of handling his airplane goes.

But some things can't be accomplished

just by issuing an order.

- You've seen the sick reports?

- Yes.

They indicate something else to me.

Besides the stress of flying...

...these men have had the breaking up

of a strong personal attachment.

They were devoted to Davenport.

He was the main thing they held on to.

- Can you suggest a treatment?

- Yes.

Ease up. Give them a chance

to get used to you.

No, major.

For two reasons.

First, there isn't time.

Second, I can't enter

a popularity contest with Davenport.

I'd lose that one.

Also, I think they're better than that.

All right, sir. That's it.

Lt. Bishop to see you, sir.

- Bishop? Who's he?

- A pilot, sir.

A recommendation for the

Medal of Honor was sent to you.

- I'll see him in a minute.

- Yes, sir.

I think I know how deep

the problem is.

The one thing that will

solve it is pride.

Pride in this group.

A pride that makes it the last thing a

man wants is to be left on the ground.

And that's my job, not yours.

Paint it with iodine

and mark them duty.

Yes, sir.

STOVALL:
Yes, sir?

- Send Bishop in.

I'd better practice

saluting you first.

I've added my name to that

recommendation.

- Thank you, sir.

- Sit down, Bishop.

Thank you, sir.

But I should tell you why I'm here.

Go ahead.

The pilots asked me to

be their spokesman.

They want to transfer out.

- How many of them?

- All of them, sir.

I can see why they sent you, Bishop.

You make quite a spokesman.

Have you thought this out?

You're sure that's the way you feel?

I think so, sir.

Tell them to put their requests

through channels.

Meanwhile they fly.

- That's all, then?

- Yes, sir.

[INTERCOM BUZZES]

Yes?

I just made some coffee, general.

Shall I bring it in?

Thanks, major.

I'll come out there and get it.

What are you doing?

Personal effects of boys who got it

to be sent to next of kin.

I'm a little behind.

I always write a letter.

It takes time to screen

the stuff pretty well.

Might save somebody back home

getting hurt unnecessarily.

That's a tough chore.

I don't envy you.

How did you happen

to get into paperwork?

They didn't give me any choice.

You see, I'm a retread.

I had my shot at combat the first war.

I wanted to get into this one...

...but they figured I was too old

for anything but a desk.

Maybe they were right.

You liked Keith Davenport,

didn't you?

- A lot, I mean.

- Yes, sir.

I thought he was one of the finest men

I ever knew.

The same way the boys felt, I'm sure.

Loyalty's a fine thing.

Well...

Thanks for the coffee, major.

General Savage?

I'd like to tell you

something else I think.

I'm a lawyer by trade.

I think I'm a good one.

When a good lawyer takes on a client,

he believes in the case.

That's all that matters.

When I came to England,

I took on my biggest client...

...the 918th Bomb Group.

I wanna see my client win its case.

- Does that answer what you had in mind?

- On the button.

What did you have in mind, exactly?

I need time before those

transfers go through.

- How much time?

- As much as we can get. Ten days.

It'll take the squadron adjutants

two days...

...to draw up all those requests.

And let's see...

I believe in thorough work.

Everything in order.

I've got a lot on my desk.

- Three days before I get to them.

- That's five.

Take a couple of days

to check them. That's seven.

Squadron adjutants

are sloppy sometimes...

...and I don't want them criticized

for sloppy paperwork.

- Do you?

- No.

Every request may have to go back

to the adjutants to be done over.

By the time I recheck them...

...it'll be 10 days before

they're ready for signature.

What a way to run an outfit.

- You red-tape adjutants are all alike.

- That's right, sir.

But, Harvey,

there can be trouble in this.

I don't think so, sir. I never heard

of a jury convicting the lawyer.

Let me have your attention.

In case you aren't clear what this is

about, I'm supposed to be a deadbeat.

So are you. That's why

you were assigned to me.

"The Leper Colony."

How do you like it?

You'll like it less after a mistake.

A blowtorch is turned our way.

Nobody's shoving me into it.

Is that clear?

Everything set? I'll ride

in the top turret where I can see.

Radio, rig an extension so the general

can talk on the command set.

All right, let's go.

"Close it up. Close it up. Shove that

damn wingtip right in his lap."

Sweet Savannah!

That wingtip's tickled me

in the ribs for three days.

- I'm tired of it.

- Tell them.

Another thing, for folks that talk

about other people's ability...

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